criterion
A criterion is a rule or standard used to judge or decide if something is good enough.
Explanation at your level:
A criterion is a rule. You use it to pick something. For example, if you want a red car, 'red' is your criterion. If the car is blue, it does not fit your rule.
When you make a choice, you use a criterion. It is like a checklist. If you are buying shoes, your criteria might be 'comfortable' and 'cheap.' You look for shoes that match these rules.
A criterion is a standard for judging. In school, your teacher might have a grading criterion for your essay, such as 'good grammar' or 'clear ideas.' You must follow these to get a good grade.
In professional life, we use criteria to make fair decisions. Instead of just liking something, we evaluate it based on objective data. For example, a company might have a specific criterion for hiring new staff, like having a university degree.
The term criterion is essential in analytical writing. It allows for the systematic evaluation of complex variables. When conducting research, you must define your criteria clearly so that your results are valid and reproducible by others in the field.
Etymologically, criterion serves as the bedrock of critical thinking. It represents the intersection of logic and judgment. By establishing rigorous criteria, one mitigates subjective bias, ensuring that assessments—whether in legal, scientific, or aesthetic domains—are grounded in verifiable principles rather than mere opinion.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Criterion is a singular noun meaning a standard for judgment.
- The plural form is criteria.
- It is used in formal, academic, and professional settings.
- It comes from ancient Greek roots related to 'judging'.
Think of a criterion as a yardstick for your brain. Whenever you need to make a choice—like picking a new phone or deciding which college to attend—you use specific standards to figure out what works best. Those standards are your criteria.
In the professional world, we use this word constantly. If you are hiring someone, your criterion for the job might be 'five years of experience.' It is all about having a clear, logical way to measure value or quality. Without these, our decisions would just be random guesses!
The word criterion comes straight from the ancient Greek word kriterion, which means 'a means of judging.' It is rooted in the Greek verb krinein, which means 'to judge' or 'to decide.'
This is the same root that gave us the word critic and crisis. Historically, it was used in philosophical debates to determine the 'truth' of a statement. Over centuries, it moved from strict logic into everyday English, becoming the standard tool we use today for making any kind of assessment.
You will hear criterion most often in academic, business, or formal settings. It is a singular noun, but watch out—the plural is criteria! Many people accidentally say 'criterias,' but that is incorrect.
Common phrases include 'meet the criterion,' 'establish a criterion,' or 'based on the criteria.' It is a formal word, so you would use it in a report or a meeting rather than chatting with friends at a coffee shop.
While 'criterion' itself isn't usually the center of an idiom, it is used in phrases like:
- Meet the criteria: To satisfy all requirements.
- Set the bar: To establish a standard (similar to setting a criterion).
- Gold standard: The best possible criterion for comparison.
- Pass the test: To fulfill the necessary criteria.
- Beyond the scope: When something falls outside the established criteria.
The most important grammar rule is the plural: criterion (singular) vs. criteria (plural). It is a classic 'Latin/Greek' plural pattern.
Pronunciation (US): /krai-TEER-ee-on/. The stress is on the second syllable. Rhymes include ion, pion, and aeon. Always use 'a' or 'the' before the singular form.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'crisis'—both involve making a judgment or decision.
Pronunciation Guide
krai-TEER-ee-un
krai-TEER-ee-un
Common Errors
- pronouncing it like 'criterias'
- stressing the first syllable
- swallowing the 'ee' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy to understand
requires care with plurals
formal
clear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Irregular Plural Nouns
Criterion/Criteria
Subject-Verb Agreement
Criteria are...
Countable Nouns
A criterion
Examples by Level
My criterion is the color.
criterion = rule
singular noun
Is this a good criterion?
good = useful
question form
We have one criterion.
one = singular
article usage
What is your criterion?
what = asking
question word
This is my only criterion.
only = just one
adjective placement
The criterion is simple.
simple = easy
subject-verb
Use this criterion.
use = follow
imperative
I like this criterion.
like = agree with
verb usage
The main criterion for the job is experience.
We need to set a clear criterion.
Does this meet your criterion?
My criterion is price.
What are the criteria for winning?
That is not a fair criterion.
We have a strict criterion.
Follow the safety criterion.
The committee established a new criterion for membership.
We must evaluate the project against every criterion.
The most important criterion is reliability.
His choice was based on a single criterion.
Can you define the selection criteria?
They failed to meet the basic criterion.
The criteria for success are clearly stated.
We need to adjust our criterion.
The primary criterion for admission is academic excellence.
We are reviewing the criteria for the new policy.
The judges have a specific criterion for each category.
His argument lacked a logical criterion.
The software must meet every security criterion.
We have narrowed down the criteria.
It is difficult to define a universal criterion.
The criteria are quite demanding.
The study utilized a rigorous criterion for participant selection.
We must avoid bias when defining our evaluation criteria.
The criterion of 'originality' is subjective in art.
The proposal fails to meet the essential criterion of feasibility.
The criteria were revised to reflect modern standards.
We need to establish a benchmark as a criterion.
The criteria are mutually exclusive.
The selection process is governed by a strict criterion.
The philosophical criterion of truth remains a subject of debate.
The criteria for judicial review are strictly defined.
He applied the criterion of parsimony to the theory.
The criteria are intrinsically linked to the methodology.
The criterion of utility is central to the argument.
We must question the validity of the established criteria.
The criterion of elegance is valued in mathematics.
The criteria are exhaustive and comprehensive.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Meet the bar"
To satisfy a requirement
Does your work meet the bar?
casual"The gold standard"
The best example of a criterion
This is the gold standard of testing.
formal"Pass with flying colors"
To easily meet all criteria
She passed the test with flying colors.
idiomatic"Set the standard"
To create the criterion for others
He set the standard for the team.
neutral"By any measure"
Using any standard of judgment
By any measure, it was a success.
formal"Above board"
Honest and meeting all rules
The deal was completely above board.
neutralEasily Confused
Plural form
Plural vs singular
One criterion, many criteria.
Same root
Person vs standard
The critic used a criterion.
Same root
Adjective vs noun
It is critical to have a criterion.
Similar meaning
Standard is broader
A criterion is a specific type of standard.
Sentence Patterns
The criterion for [noun] is [noun].
The criterion for success is hard work.
We have [number] criteria for [noun].
We have three criteria for the project.
Based on the criterion of [noun]...
Based on the criterion of cost, we chose this.
They failed to meet the criterion of [noun].
They failed to meet the criterion of accuracy.
The criteria are [adj].
The criteria are quite rigorous.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Criteria is already plural.
Criteria is plural, so use 'these'.
Criterion is the singular form.
Plural nouns need plural verbs.
Cannot use 'a' with a plural noun.
Tips
The Plural Trap
Remember: Criterion (1), Criteria (2+).
Checklist Method
Whenever you see 'criteria', think 'checklist'.
Avoid 'criterias'
Never add an 's' to criteria.
Business Speak
Use it in meetings to sound professional.
Stress the Middle
Emphasize the 'TEER' part.
Greek Roots
It comes from the same word as 'critic'.
Context Matters
Use it when discussing rules or standards.
Rhyme Time
Rhymes with 'ion' words.
Write Examples
Write 5 sentences using 'criteria' today.
Academic Writing
Essential for essays.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Crit-E-rion: 'Crit' sounds like 'Critique', which is judging.
Visual Association
A judge holding a checklist.
Word Web
Challenge
List 3 criteria for your dream house.
Word Origin
Greek
Original meaning: a means of judging
Cultural Context
None.
Used heavily in academic and professional environments.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Hiring
- selection criteria
- meet the requirements
- job criteria
School
- grading criteria
- assignment standards
- rubric criteria
Business
- project criteria
- performance standards
- evaluation metrics
Research
- methodological criteria
- data standards
- validity criteria
Conversation Starters
"What is your main criterion for choosing a friend?"
"Do you think grading criteria in schools are fair?"
"What criteria should a government use to make laws?"
"Is it better to have many criteria or just one?"
"How do you decide which criteria are most important?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to make a hard choice. What was your criterion?
Describe the criteria you use for a perfect vacation.
If you were a teacher, what criteria would you use for grading?
Why is it important to have clear criteria in life?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsCriterion is singular, criteria is plural.
No, that is incorrect.
Use it as a standard for judgment.
Yes, it is usually used in formal contexts.
Standard or benchmark.
krai-TEER-ee-on.
Yes, for hiring criteria.
No, it is a noun.
Test Yourself
The ___ for the race is speed.
Need singular noun.
What is the plural of criterion?
Irregular plural.
Criteria is a singular noun.
It is plural.
Word
Meaning
Singular vs plural.
They meet the criteria.
These ___ are too strict.
Plural subject.
Which is correct?
Only 'The criterion' is grammatically correct.
You can say 'a criteria'.
Criteria is plural.
We applied a rigorous criterion.
Word
Meaning
Vocabulary matching.
Score: /10
Summary
Always remember: one criterion, many criteria!
- Criterion is a singular noun meaning a standard for judgment.
- The plural form is criteria.
- It is used in formal, academic, and professional settings.
- It comes from ancient Greek roots related to 'judging'.
The Plural Trap
Remember: Criterion (1), Criteria (2+).
Checklist Method
Whenever you see 'criteria', think 'checklist'.
Avoid 'criterias'
Never add an 's' to criteria.
Business Speak
Use it in meetings to sound professional.
Example
Price is my main criterion when choosing a new smartphone.
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