1
as in standard
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared
one criterion for grading these essays will be their conformity to the rules of traditional grammar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind
an exceptionally high degree of physical risk is the preeminent criterion of an extreme sport
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of criterion
My biggest priority is that the pants need to not ride up uncomfortably or dig into my stomach while sitting for long periods of time — and luckily, Amazon’s fashion department has lots of pants styles that fit this criteria.
—
Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
But in 2006, nine years after Tombaugh died, members of the International Astronomical Union voted on the criteria for a planet.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 14 May 2026
To circumscribe and make more manageable the selection process, science journalists adopt media logic criteria such as newsworthiness, novelty, potential for controversy, and human interest.
—Prodromos Yannas, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
Established in 2020, to be eligible for a best picture nomination a film must fulfill diversity criteria that includes a combination of casting, subject matter, leadership and departments heads, crew, apprenticeships and/or audience development.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for criterion
Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
But in 2006, nine years after Tombaugh died, members of the International Astronomical Union voted on the criteria for a planet.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 14 May 2026
To circumscribe and make more manageable the selection process, science journalists adopt media logic criteria such as newsworthiness, novelty, potential for controversy, and human interest.
—Prodromos Yannas, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
Established in 2020, to be eligible for a best picture nomination a film must fulfill diversity criteria that includes a combination of casting, subject matter, leadership and departments heads, crew, apprenticeships and/or audience development.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for criterion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criterion
Noun
-
That particular section, which sets new standards around warehouse operations and gives employees more information about company quotas and biometric surveillance, has drawn pushback from CBIA.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
The fire extinguisher incident was the latest pitfall in a season that, even by Marseille’s own inherently chaotic standards, has stretched the bounds of credibility.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
This compression of the purchase funnel is now the defining characteristic of modern fashion commerce, separating market leaders from those struggling to keep pace.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
One of the defining characteristics of Nicole Wise’s first season as the Mater Dei softball coach surfaced again Thursday.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Spot prices reflect real-time market trading and serve as a benchmark for futures contracts, ETFs and retail bullion pricing.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Consumer Reports’ water filter pitcher ratings are a useful benchmark for comparing pitchers side by side, but won’t tell you whether a pitcher is the right choice at all.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
These features are designed to support a wide range of content creation needs, from interviews and vlogs to documentary and narrative filmmaking.—
Deadline,
Deadline,
20 May 2026
-
Historic details get the loving restoration treatment, while rooms are filled with vintage finds and new, luxe features.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Before Marseille’s 1-0 win at Le Havre last weekend, the squad were confined to the club’s La Commanderie training base for four consecutive days as a punitive measure after a succession of poor performances.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
There was some progress on issues like tax credits, while other measures, like AI regulations and new labor requirements, could introduce new burdens on a range of industries, groups argue.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
That is Romeo Lavia’s best quality in midfield, while Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernandez can all see and play vertical passes into the final third — though the latter may well be better utilised as one of the No 10s.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Communication happens through a private Slack channel with the client's dedicated attorney, and AI tools are used to control quality and speed, while a human lawyer remains responsible for every deliverable.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Ming notes that these same four traits, measured in children, predict lifetime earnings and all-cause mortality rates.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
More to Explore The researchers found that faces that were rated as more attractive were rated more highly across all positive traits—not just competence, but intelligence, responsibility, and other traits—and were rated lower on all negative traits.—
Ben Ambridge,
JSTOR Daily,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
AlShehail noted several attributes of Saudi fashion that are setting it apart.—
FMG Studios,
Footwear News,
10 May 2026
-
That’s a valuable attribute in this climate, when public sentiment often influences internal discourse.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criterion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criterion. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
