bench·mark
ˈbench-ˌmärk 
1
a
: something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or judged
a stock whose performance is a benchmark against which other stocks can be measured
b
: a point of reference from which measurements may be made
c
: a standardized problem or test that serves as a basis for evaluation or comparison (as of computer system performance)
2
usually bench mark
: a mark on a permanent object (such as a concrete post set into the ground) indicating elevation and serving as a reference in topographic surveys and tidal observations
benchmarked; benchmarking; benchmarks
business
: to study (something, such as a competitor's product or business practices) in order to improve the performance of one's own company
Synonyms
Examples of benchmark in a Sentence
Noun
a stock whose performance is a benchmark against which other stocks can be measured
this prize-winning biography will be the benchmark against which all others will be judged in future years
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Fanzeres, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
The Department of Education aimed to launch a simplified financial aid application process this year, but issues with the rollout mean the process is lagging far behind the usual benchmarks.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
The European Central Bank left its key interest rate benchmark unchanged Thursday, choosing to wait for confirmation that rapidly receding inflation is firmly under control before cutting rates to support an economy that’s struggling to grow.
—David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
To offset the perils of Ballad’s monopoly, officials required the new company to commit to a long list of special conditions, including dozens of quality-care metrics spelled out with specific benchmarks.
—Brett Kelman and Samantha Liss, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
As a product that prides itself on being GMO-free and not containing any pesticides, Penguin hits every benchmark on keeping it natural.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Brent crude, the world’s oil benchmark, jumped as much as 1.8% to $89 per barrel, the highest since September.
—Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Key Background Gas prices have surged to their highest point this month after the West Texas Intermediate, a national benchmark for crude oil, reached a four-month high.
—Ty Roush, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The Hang Seng Index, the benchmark that tracks the largest companies on the city’s stock exchange, has dropped for four straight years.
—Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 27 Mar. 2024
Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Each year, hundreds of delegates from universities travel to ASU to benchmark their various programs and models.
—Brandon Busteed, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
To accurately gauge your ROI, define your key performance indicators (KPIs), benchmark your current operations against these KPIs, calculate the total costs of implementation and then assess the operational savings and revenue enhancements post-integration.
—Nishith Rastogi, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
In fact, Apple uses a group of its competitors, including Meta, Netflix, Visa, and Cisco, to benchmark its executives’ compensation.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2024
This can help benchmark your results and use this data to inform future strategies with more confidence.
—Alison Bringé, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
The first step here is to benchmark what cheap means.
—David Trainer, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
Once a year, the BLS also benchmarks the March payrolls level to a more accurate but less timely data source called the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
—Reade Pickert, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
Job seekers want record-high wages — and men expect $25,000 more than women do
Every year, the BLS conducts a revision to the data from its monthly survey of businesses’ payrolls, then benchmarks the March employment level to those measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 23 Aug. 2023
Noun
Global benchmark Brent surged as much as 2.7% to top $92 a barrel, a level last reached during the early days of the war.
—Julia Fanzeres, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
The Department of Education aimed to launch a simplified financial aid application process this year, but issues with the rollout mean the process is lagging far behind the usual benchmarks.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
The European Central Bank left its key interest rate benchmark unchanged Thursday, choosing to wait for confirmation that rapidly receding inflation is firmly under control before cutting rates to support an economy that’s struggling to grow.
—David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
To offset the perils of Ballad’s monopoly, officials required the new company to commit to a long list of special conditions, including dozens of quality-care metrics spelled out with specific benchmarks.
—Brett Kelman and Samantha Liss, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
As a product that prides itself on being GMO-free and not containing any pesticides, Penguin hits every benchmark on keeping it natural.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Brent crude, the world’s oil benchmark, jumped as much as 1.8% to $89 per barrel, the highest since September.
—Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Key Background Gas prices have surged to their highest point this month after the West Texas Intermediate, a national benchmark for crude oil, reached a four-month high.
—Ty Roush, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The Hang Seng Index, the benchmark that tracks the largest companies on the city’s stock exchange, has dropped for four straight years.
—Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
One idea is to segment it into levels in the same way that carmakers try to benchmark the path between cruise control and fully self-driving vehicles.
—Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Each year, hundreds of delegates from universities travel to ASU to benchmark their various programs and models.
—Brandon Busteed, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
To accurately gauge your ROI, define your key performance indicators (KPIs), benchmark your current operations against these KPIs, calculate the total costs of implementation and then assess the operational savings and revenue enhancements post-integration.
—Nishith Rastogi, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
In fact, Apple uses a group of its competitors, including Meta, Netflix, Visa, and Cisco, to benchmark its executives’ compensation.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2024
This can help benchmark your results and use this data to inform future strategies with more confidence.
—Alison Bringé, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
The first step here is to benchmark what cheap means.
—David Trainer, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
Once a year, the BLS also benchmarks the March payrolls level to a more accurate but less timely data source called the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
—Reade Pickert, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
Job seekers want record-high wages — and men expect $25,000 more than women do
Every year, the BLS conducts a revision to the data from its monthly survey of businesses’ payrolls, then benchmarks the March employment level to those measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 23 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'benchmark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near benchmark
Cite this Entry
“Benchmark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benchmark. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
benchmark
noun1
usually bench mark
: a mark on a permanent object indicating elevation and serving as a reference in geological surveys
2
: something (as a test) that can be used as a standard to check other things (as computer programs) against
More from Merriam-Webster on benchmark
Nglish: Translation of benchmark for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of benchmark for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share