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
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
Accountability is easier when the yardstick is clear.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Consider the personal income per resident yardstick, the bureau’s comprehensive measurement of all types of incomes, including those from jobs, businesses, investments, and government assistance.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Water is the universal yardstick of comet science, the baseline for measuring how sunlight drives a comet's activity and releases other gases.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Warren Buffett’s one-time favorite yardstick for stock market valuations has climbed to an all-time high, reviving fears that investors are once again testing the limits of market exuberance.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yardstick
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Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Consider the personal income per resident yardstick, the bureau’s comprehensive measurement of all types of incomes, including those from jobs, businesses, investments, and government assistance.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Water is the universal yardstick of comet science, the baseline for measuring how sunlight drives a comet's activity and releases other gases.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Warren Buffett’s one-time favorite yardstick for stock market valuations has climbed to an all-time high, reviving fears that investors are once again testing the limits of market exuberance.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yardstick
Cite this Entry
“Yardstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yardstick. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
yardstick
noun
yard·stick
-ˌstik
1
: a measuring stick a yard long
2
: a rule or standard by which something is measured
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