point of reference

noun phrase

: something that is used to judge or understand something else

The professor used the study as a point of reference for evaluating and discussing other theories.

Examples of point of reference in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As one point of reference, YouTube’s $2 billion of Sunday Ticket spending looks smaller when put next to parent company Alphabet’s planned $200 billion in capital expenditures this year, driven by demand for AI infrastructure. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Her only point of reference was Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino's 2019 alternate history about the cult leader and the events leading to the infamous 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders. — Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 22 July 2026

Like Greek and Roman anatomists before him, Burdach turned to the natural world as a point of reference. — Angelica Calabrese, Longreads, 7 July 2026

Rather than focusing solely on the fish, the photographer wanted to use it as a point of reference within a much larger world. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Rhymes for point of reference

• deference
• preference