1
metrics plural
: a part of prosody that deals with metrical (see metrical sense 1) structure
the analytical study of metric—
T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot2
: a standard of measurement
no metric exists that can be applied directly to happiness—Scientific Monthly
Scientific Monthly3
: a mathematical function that associates a real nonnegative number analogous to distance with each pair of elements in a set such that the number is zero only if the two elements are identical, the number is the same regardless of the order in which the two elements are taken, and the number associated with one pair of elements plus that associated with one member of the pair and a third element is equal to or greater than the number associated with the other member of the pair and the third element
: of, relating to, or using the metric system
a metric study
variants
or -metrical
1
: of, employing, or obtained by (such) a meter
galvanometric
2
: of or relating to (such) an art, process, or science of measuring
geometrical
Did you know?
The metric system was invented in France in the years following the French Revolution, and a version of it is now used in most of the world to measure distance, weight, and volume. Basic metric units include the kilogram (the basic unit of weight), the liter (the basic unit of volume), and of course the meter (the basic unit of length—see below). Metric—or more often metrical—can also refer to the basic underlying rhythm of songs and poetry. So while the scientists' measurements are usually metric, the poets' are usually metrical.
Synonyms
Examples of metric in a Sentence
Noun
according to the usual metrics by which we judge fiction, this novel is an utter failure
Adjective
The metric unit of energy is the “joule.”
Recent Examples on the WebAndrew Follett, National Review, 8 May 2024
And that is the metric that’s truly important, Dr. Peterson says.
—SELF, 7 May 2024
This web analytics metric represents the percentage of single-page visits to a website.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
McCarthy said Peloton was able to improve a key financial metric of free cash flow.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 2 May 2024
Plus, Carvana’s gross profit per unit — a metric closely watched by investors — was $6,432, up from $4,303 in 2023.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 2 May 2024
The company said this metric measured the time a medical director spent on tasks involving medical judgment versus other work, such as internal meetings or training.
—Patrick Rucker, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2024
The real kicker, however, is that spending will count towards elite metrics on both cards, providing a tangible and all-new way to upgrade or retain status within Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
—Chris Dong, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2024
Yet, companies with a strong sense of purpose perform better across several important business metrics.
—Tom Davidson, Fortune, 7 May 2024
Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 3 May 2024
But clinical visits generally last just 20 minutes and have not gotten longer as quality metric requirements have expanded.
—Katherine Gergen Barnett and Lara F. Terry, STAT, 2 May 2024
If the cash were in various denominations, like $5s, $10s and $20s, the weight of $1 million in cash could be closer to 250 pounds (115 kilograms), which could bring the overall weight of last weekend’s haul to a whopping 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilograms), or about 3 1/2 tons (3.18 metric tonnes).
—Sean Murphy, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Inflation data for March will be issued on April 10, a metric sure to be closely watched given that the Fed wants to see the annual inflation rate drift back down to its pre-pandemic level of about 2%.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
This metric measures how often and effectively end users utilize the features developed by the outsourced team.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
If the cash were in various denominations, like $5s, $10s and $20s, the weight of $1 million in cash could be closer to 250 pounds (115 kilograms), which could bring the overall weight of last weekend's haul to a whopping 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilograms), or about 3 1/2 tons (3.18 metric tonnes).
—Sean Murphy, Quartz, 5 Apr. 2024
The latter company was far bigger in every metric (annual revenue, for example, was $27 billion vs. $5 billion) except for one: market capitalization, which is the value Wall Street put on each of the company’s shares.
—Paul Bond, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
The researchers used a metric called the supplemental poverty measure, which considers both income and noncash support like food stamps, as well as the local cost of living.
—Stefanos Chen, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
Yet the group’s analysis of the 250 top-grossing movies between 2013 and 2022 with these metrics found that a mere 24 films, just 9.6 percent, passed.
—Andrew Follett, National Review, 8 May 2024
And that is the metric that’s truly important, Dr. Peterson says.
—SELF, 7 May 2024
This web analytics metric represents the percentage of single-page visits to a website.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
McCarthy said Peloton was able to improve a key financial metric of free cash flow.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 2 May 2024
Plus, Carvana’s gross profit per unit — a metric closely watched by investors — was $6,432, up from $4,303 in 2023.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 2 May 2024
The company said this metric measured the time a medical director spent on tasks involving medical judgment versus other work, such as internal meetings or training.
—Patrick Rucker, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2024
The real kicker, however, is that spending will count towards elite metrics on both cards, providing a tangible and all-new way to upgrade or retain status within Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
—Chris Dong, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2024
Yet, companies with a strong sense of purpose perform better across several important business metrics.
—Tom Davidson, Fortune, 7 May 2024
Adjective
Despite a string of solid inflation readings that showed the metric falling, inflation began creeping back up earlier this year, and pushed up to 3.5% in March.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 3 May 2024
But clinical visits generally last just 20 minutes and have not gotten longer as quality metric requirements have expanded.
—Katherine Gergen Barnett and Lara F. Terry, STAT, 2 May 2024
If the cash were in various denominations, like $5s, $10s and $20s, the weight of $1 million in cash could be closer to 250 pounds (115 kilograms), which could bring the overall weight of last weekend’s haul to a whopping 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilograms), or about 3 1/2 tons (3.18 metric tonnes).
—Sean Murphy, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Inflation data for March will be issued on April 10, a metric sure to be closely watched given that the Fed wants to see the annual inflation rate drift back down to its pre-pandemic level of about 2%.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
This metric measures how often and effectively end users utilize the features developed by the outsourced team.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
If the cash were in various denominations, like $5s, $10s and $20s, the weight of $1 million in cash could be closer to 250 pounds (115 kilograms), which could bring the overall weight of last weekend's haul to a whopping 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilograms), or about 3 1/2 tons (3.18 metric tonnes).
—Sean Murphy, Quartz, 5 Apr. 2024
The latter company was far bigger in every metric (annual revenue, for example, was $27 billion vs. $5 billion) except for one: market capitalization, which is the value Wall Street put on each of the company’s shares.
—Paul Bond, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
The researchers used a metric called the supplemental poverty measure, which considers both income and noncash support like food stamps, as well as the local cost of living.
—Stefanos Chen, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metric.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near metric
Cite this Entry
“Metric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metric. Accessed 19 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share