benchmark — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A standard by which something is evaluated or measured.

   Synonyms

   criterion

   Examples

   Near-synonym: criterion

   More examples (2)

   Is the pope Catholic? Forgive the posing of a question that is usually rhetorical, the absolute benchmark of certainty, and traditionally regarded as even more settled than the one pertaining to the lavatorial arrangements of bears.

   In a press release, CARB expanded on their decision. "The LCFS reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by setting a declining carbon intensity target for transportation fuels used in California; producers that don't meet established benchmarks buy credits from those that do. This system has generated $4 billion in annual private sector investment toward a cleaner transportation sector."

2. A surveyor's mark made on some stationary object and shown on a map; used as a reference point.

   Synonyms

   datum

   Examples

   Near-synonym: datum

3. A computer program that is executed to assess the performance of the runtime environment.

Verb

1. To measure the performance or quality of (an item) relative to another similar item in an impartial scientific manner. To give certain results in a benchmark test.

   Usage

   • Intransitive
   • Transitive
   • followed by at

2. To measure the performance or quality of (an item) relative to another similar item in an impartial scientific manner. To use something (e.g., a competitor's product) as a standard to improve one's own thing.

   Usage

   • Transitive or intransitive
   • Transitive
   • followed by against

Noun

1. a standard by which something can be measured or judged

   Broader terms

   standardcriterionmeasuretouchstone

   Examples

   his painting sets the benchmark of quality

2. a surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point

   Synonyms

   bench mark

   Broader terms

   reference pointpoint of referencereference