yardstick

noun yard·stick \ ˈyärd-ˌstik \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: yardstick in a Sentence

Definition of yardstick

1 a : a graduated measuring stick three feet (0.9144 meter) long

b : a standard basis of calculation

a yardstick for measuring astronomical distances

2 : a standard for making a critical judgment : criterion

measured by the yardstick of her first book

was a great success by any yardstick

See yardstick defined for English-language learners

See yardstick defined for kids

Examples of yardstick in a Sentence

Some feel that test scores aren't an adequate yardstick for judging a student's ability.
Ratings are the yardstick by which TV shows are evaluated by networks.

Recent Examples of yardstick from the Web

Conferences such as this can also act as a competitive yardstick to show how firms are progressing on developing technologies.

— hayley tsukayama, latimes.com, "Apple WWDC 2018: Siri, health and augmented reality are expected topics," 4 June 2018
But the Astros — as well as the first-place Boston Red Sox — will most likely remain a yardstick with which to measure how this Yankees team might fare again in October, when pitching so often takes precedence.

— New York Times, "Yankees Offense Takes the Day Off Against Justin Verlander," 28 May 2018
That’s another common yardstick used by economists for historical comparisons.

— Washington Post, "AP FACT CHECK: Trump sees himself outperforming history," 7 Mar. 2018
For roughly the first hour, the film moves some very interesting elements into place as Lazzaro’s good behavior becomes the yardstick against which everyone else’s less-than-decent conduct is measured.

— boyd van hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Happy as Lazzaro' ('Lazzaro Felice'): Film Review | Cannes 2018," 13 May 2018
Using last year’s Billboard Boxscore results as a yardstick, concert promoters and bookers are looking at a potential 10-figure market, just for the warm-weather months.

— billboard staff, Billboard, "18 of the Hottest Tours In the Summer of 2018," 16 Apr. 2018
For one, adult high schools are graded using a different formula, and innovation schools can opt to use a more generous yardstick that only factors in test improvement.

— shaina cavazos, Indianapolis Star, "How are Indiana charter schools doing? 9 things to know from the state’s 1st study," 7 Apr. 2018
The Rumble 2018 has already been a success by at least one yardstick, because tickets are already sold out.

— kevin warwick, Chicago Reader, "Do This / Music / Things I Love / This Will Kill You Hardcore throwdown the Rumble returns after five years, picking up the change where it left off," 25 Apr. 2018
Measured against that yardstick, the relationship between presidential and Senate preferences remains very powerful.

— ronald brownstein, CNN, "The powerful pattern Democrats must break to win the Senate," 17 Apr. 2018

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

First Known Use of yardstick

1610

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

yardstick Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of yardstick

standard, criterion, gauge, yardstick, touchstone mean a means of determining what a thing should be. standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

- standards of behavior

criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

- questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

- polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

- housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

- fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

YARDSTICK Defined for English Language Learners

yardstick

noun

Definition of yardstick for English Language Learners

: a long, flat tool that is one yard long and is used to measure things
: a rule or specific idea about what is acceptable or desirable that is used to judge or measure something