reference point
noun
: something that is used to judge or understand something else
The professor used the study as a reference point for evaluating and discussing other theories.
Examples of reference point in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And in the process of monetizing identity, the industry has created a generation of consumers who don’t know how to dress without a reference point.
—
Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 8 July 2025
New Girl, perhaps Adults’s clearest reference point, took nearly a full network season to tone down Jess’s tweeness and two seasons to heighten Winston as a delightfully weird fan favorite, yet Adults has to try to nail it out of the gate.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 4 June 2025
Pittman’s 2024 extension, when the 26-year-old signed for $23.3 million annually after a 109-catch season, is a solid reference point.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
Since her breakout in 2020, the 24-year-old has carved out a distinct space in the pop landscape, her signature sound is now a reference point for a new generation of artists.
—Gabrielle MacAfee, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reference point
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.
Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 8 July 2025
New Girl, perhaps Adults’s clearest reference point, took nearly a full network season to tone down Jess’s tweeness and two seasons to heighten Winston as a delightfully weird fan favorite, yet Adults has to try to nail it out of the gate.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 4 June 2025
Pittman’s 2024 extension, when the 26-year-old signed for $23.3 million annually after a 109-catch season, is a solid reference point.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
Since her breakout in 2020, the 24-year-old has carved out a distinct space in the pop landscape, her signature sound is now a reference point for a new generation of artists.
—Gabrielle MacAfee, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reference point
Cite this Entry
“Reference point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reference%20point. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share