Criterion

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kɹaɪˈtɪəɹiÉ™n/, /kɹɪˈtɪəɹiÉ™n/

Alternative forms

• criteria nonstandard
• criterium

Origin

From New Latin criterion, from Ancient Greek κριτήριον (kriterion, "a test, a means of judging"), from κριτής (krites, "a judge"), from κρίνω (krinō, "I judge"); see critic.

Full definition of criterion

Noun

1. A standard or test by which individual things or people may be compared and judged.
• 2013-11-30, Paul Davis, Letters: Say it as simply as possible, Congratulations on managing to use the phrase “preponderant criterion” in a chart (“On your marks”, November 9th). Was this the work of a kakorrhaphiophobic journalist set a challenge by his colleagues, or simply an example of glossolalia?

Usage notes

The plural form criterions also exists, but is much less common.

The form criteria is sometimes used as a nonstandard singular form (as in a criteria, this criteria, and so on), with corresponding plural form criterias. In this use, it sometimes means “a single criterion”, sometimes “a set of criteria”.

Related terms

• criterial
• crisis
• critic
• criticize
• critical

Anagrams

• tricerion