Benchmark Definition

bĕnchmärk

benchmarked, benchmarking, benchmarks

noun

benchmarks

A standard by which something can be measured or judged.

American Heritage

A surveyor's mark made on a stationary object of previously determined position and elevation and used as a reference point, as in geologic surveys or tidal observations.

American Heritage

A standard by which something is evaluated or measured.

Wiktionary

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

Wiktionary

(computing) A computer program that is executed to assess the performance of the runtime environment.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

verb

To measure (a rival's product) according to specified standards in order to compare it with and improve one's own product.

American Heritage

To measure the performance of (an item) relative to another similar item in an impartial scientific manner.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Benchmark

Noun

Singular:

benchmark

Plural:

benchmarks

Origin of Benchmark

From bench +"Ž mark. Originally (attested circa 1842) a mark cut into a stone by land surveyors to secure a "bench" (from 19th century land surveying jargon, meaning a type of bracket), to mount measuring equipment. Figurative sense attested circa 1884.

From Wiktionary
From the use of the surveyor's mark as a place to insert an angle iron that serves as a bench or level surface, for the support for a leveling rod

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition