a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed, a surveyor's mark made on a stationary object of previously determined position and elevation used as a reference point

Formal and Informal Expressions of benchmark

In different contexts, you can replace 'benchmark' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'standard, criterion' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'yardstick, measure' is a commonplace synonym.

benchmark: Explore its Definition & Usage

benchmark Definition

1a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed
2a surveyor's mark made on a stationary object of previously determined position and elevation used as a reference point

Using benchmark: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "benchmark" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a benchmark for the stock market.
Example
The company uses customer satisfaction as a benchmark for success.
Example
The new product was benchmarked against the competition.
Example
The benchmark for a healthy weight is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.

benchmark Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for benchmark

Antonyms for benchmark

Phrases with benchmark

set a benchmark
to establish a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed
Example
The company set a benchmark for customer satisfaction by providing excellent service.
benchmark study
a study that compares the performance of a product, service, or organization with that of its competitors or peers
Example
The benchmark study showed that our product was more efficient than our competitors'.
benchmark test
a test that measures the performance of a computer hardware or software system relative to a standard or reference point
Example
The benchmark test showed that the new graphics card was faster than the previous model.

Origins of benchmark

from 'bench' and 'mark', denoting the chiseled horizontal marks that surveyors made in stone structures, into which an angle-iron could be placed to form a 'bench' for a leveling rod, thus determining elevation levels.

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Summary: benchmark in Brief

The term 'benchmark' [ˈbɛntʃmɑːrk] refers to a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed. It can be used to compare products, services, organizations, or even health. The phrase 'set a benchmark' means to establish a standard, while 'benchmark study' and 'benchmark test' refer to comparative studies and tests. The term comes from surveying, where it denotes a chiseled horizontal mark used as a reference point.