criteria
UK: kraɪˈtɪəriə | US: kraɪˈtɪriə
n. (plural of criterion) 1. Standards or principles used to judge or evaluate something.
n. 2. A defining characteristic or requirement for a decision or classification.
criteri<judge> + a<plural suffix>
- criteri (from Greek kritērion < "means of judging, standard," derived from kritēs < "judge")
- a (Latin plural suffix, often used in scientific or formal contexts)
Etymology Origin:
The word criteria originates from Greek kritērion, meaning "a standard for judgment." It entered English via Latin, where the plural form criteria became standardized. The singular criterion is less commonly used in modern English, with criteria often treated as a singular noun in informal contexts. The morpheme criteri preserves the core idea of judgment, while -a marks its plural form, reflecting its academic and technical usage.
The selection criteria for the scholarship include academic excellence and leadership potential.
Meeting the safety criteria is essential for product approval.
The committee established clear criteria to evaluate the proposals.
One of the key criteria for success is customer satisfaction.
The project failed because it did not fulfill the basic criteria.