yardstick

noun

yard·stick | \ ˈyärd-ˌstik

Definition of yardstick

1a : 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

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about yardstick

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Cultural fit, or comfort with the company’s prevailing values and beliefs, is one traditional yardstick, but that approach risks building a workforce that lacks diversity and is slow to innovate or question the status quo. — Sue Shellenbarger, WSJ, "Companies Hire on Potential—If Only They Knew What That Meant," 12 Mar. 2019 Using a 20 percent threshold as a yardstick for booms and busts in chip stocks, the sector has experienced the longest bull markets in its history over the past six years. — Jeran Wittenstein, The Seattle Times, "Record chip stock rally is fraying, reviving painful memories," 10 Sep. 2018 The lower 48 states make up only 1.6 percent of the globe, so what’s happening there at any particular time is not a yardstick of the planet’s climate. — Eric Tucker, The Seattle Times, "AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s untruths on Russia probe, wall, jobs," 6 Feb. 2019 For decades, the main yardstick in antitrust cases has been consumer welfare, which often boils down to prices. — Paul J. Davies, WSJ, "Big Buyers Beware the New Trustbusters," 28 Dec. 2018 One yardstick to assess the potential is the U.K., where a quarter of cats and dogs are insured, according to Laura Bennett, a pet insurance actuary and fellow of the Society of Actuaries. — Jo Craven Mcginty, WSJ, "As Veterinary Bills Add Up, More Pet Owners Opt for Insurance," 24 Aug. 2018 Windows 95 is the operating system that’s now used as a yardstick for what’s possible on modern devices and platforms. — Tom Warren, The Verge, "Windows 95 is now an app you can download and install on macOS, Windows, and Linux," 23 Aug. 2018 Yet an important stock market yardstick — the price-earnings ratio — suggests investors have an almost unquestioning faith in Netflix’s ability to notch fast-growing earnings. — Peter Eavis, The Seattle Times, "Netflix keeps adding subscribers, and market investors could profit," 16 Oct. 2018 Real wealth, the most familiar yardstick, accounts for the relative purchasing power of a particular sum by adjusting it for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. — Jo Craven Mcginty, WSJ, "Is Jeff Bezos Really the Richest of Them All?," 10 Aug. 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.