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
The right-wing extremism of the Nazis remains the main reference point for expressions of concern or outrage about threats to Western democracies and freedoms.
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Katja Hoyer, semafor.com, 19 July 2025
Researchers are realizing that canine tumors parallel those in people so closely that dogs may be the best reference point for understanding many of our own cancers.
—Knowable Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
Eventually, the idea of contamination becomes more metaphorical, providing an image or a reference point for how Tabo’s culpability, and that of his mother, spreads to the three central characters.
—Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Other financial centers, particularly in Europe and Asia, may look to the GENIUS Act as a reference point for developing their own regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with systemic trust.
—Geoff Ira, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for reference point
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Katja Hoyer, semafor.com, 19 July 2025
Researchers are realizing that canine tumors parallel those in people so closely that dogs may be the best reference point for understanding many of our own cancers.
—Knowable Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
Eventually, the idea of contamination becomes more metaphorical, providing an image or a reference point for how Tabo’s culpability, and that of his mother, spreads to the three central characters.
—Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Other financial centers, particularly in Europe and Asia, may look to the GENIUS Act as a reference point for developing their own regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with systemic trust.
—Geoff Ira, Forbes.com, 15 July 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 29 Jul. 2025.
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