yardstick

noun

yard·​stick ˈyärd-ˌstik 

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

Synonyms

• bar
• barometer
• benchmark
• criterion
• gold standard
• grade
• mark
• measure
• metric
• par
• standard
• touchstone

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

It can’t be captured fully by any individual yardstick, and by many metrics is still well above where most Americans, and in fact some Fed officials, feel comfortable. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2024

Using the yardstick of a €60,000 ($67,000) salary, Boundless found that the most affordable nation for employers was Lithuania, where paying a €60,000 salary cost just €61,074, while the most expensive was Austria, where the costs on top of the #60,000 amounted to €28,618. —Roger Trapp, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

Walking on the sandy riverbed, McNeish used a yardstick to estimate how much the water had receded in an isolated pond since her last visit. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024

Woodrow Rosenbaum, the chief data officer of GivingTuesday, has pushed back on the idea that giving is in decline at all, saying that’s only true if our measurement yardstick is based on monetary gifts to nonprofits. —Rachel M. Cohen, Vox, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

yardstick

noun

yard·​stick -ˌstik 

1

: a measuring stick a yard long

2

: a rule or standard by which something is measured