criterium

noun cri·te·ri·um \ krī-ˈtir-ē-əm , krē-ter-ˈyȯm \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Definition of criterium

: a bicycle race of a specified number of laps on a closed course over public roads closed to normal traffic

Recent Examples of criterium from the Web

The third stage of the race, known as the criterium, will be held in downtown Covington and will prompt street closures between 6:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "Tour de Louisiane bike race set for this weekend in St. Tammany," 4 June 2018
One recent group speculating on a film is headed by ultra-cycling legend John Howard and Rashid Bahati, the father of former U.S. criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati.

— todd balf, Outside Online, "Why Haven't You Heard of Marshall "Major" Taylor?," 19 Apr. 2018
This year, for the first time, the tournament selection committee added an additional criterium to its formula — the Quadrant System.

— michelle kaufman, miamiherald, "Everything you need to know about Selection Sunday (including that it’s not on CBS) | Miami Herald," 10 Mar. 2018
That day, James Grady, a fixie rider who runs a local criterium race called the Mission Crit, hit the hay bales at the end of that course, tumbled over them, and broke three ribs hitting pavement on the other side.

— tom taylor, SI.com, "What Is it Like to Race Up Some of the Toughest Hills In America On a Bike?," 28 Sep. 2017
Prograis 10:30 p.m. SHO CYCLING TIME TV Criterium: Dauphine sixth stage (Sat.

— miamiherald, "Sports on TV: Friday, June 9, 2017," 8 June 2017
The race weekend consists of a time trial, circuit race, and criterium in an omnium format with male and female champions crowned.

— matt campbell, kansascity.com, "Bicyclist killed Sunday during Tour of Kansas City event," 25 June 2017
FSFL MLB: Nationals @ Dodgers 10 p.m. ESPN ESPND NCAA Regional: TBA if necessary 11 p.m. ESPN2 ESPNU CYCLING TIME TV Criterium: Dauphine second stage (Tue.,

— miamiherald, "Sports on TV: Monday, June 5, 2017," 5 June 2017
Paul Neal rides the Riverwalk criterium course in Rock Hill.

— michael gordon, charlotteobserver, "In 1967 a kid crossed the USA on his bike. Now 68, here’s why he’ll do it again," 2 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'criterium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of criterium

borrowed from French critérium, "competition," literally, "criterion," borrowed from Late Latin critērium, borrowed from Greek kritḗrion criterion

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1970

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year