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yardstick definition

☆ yard·stick (-stik′)

noun

  1. a graduated stick or rod one yard in length, used in measuring
  2. any test or standard used in measuring, judging, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

yardstick Synonyms

yardstick

n.

  1. A rule three feet long

    thirty-six-inch ruler, measuring stick, molding rule, yard, yard measure; see also ruler 2.

  2. A unit for comparison

    criterion, basis for judgment, criterion, standard, gauge, norm, rule, model, pattern, test, arbitrary device; see also measure 2. See syn. study at standard.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

yardstick Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • become: His success has become the unofficial yardstick for any overseas executive put in charge of a local firm in trouble.

Converse of subject

  • judge: In Afghanistan, Nato does indeed appear to be failing, judged by the most obvious yardsticks.

Adjective modifier

  • fundamental: He continues to say that is the fundamental yardstick of our nation's economic success.

Noun used with modifier

  • poverty: There is currently a world-wide debate on poverty yardsticks to identify the poor.

Preposition: of

  • equality: The yardstick of equality has provided much needed guidance.

Preposition: for

  • success: The yardstick for success in the modern world is whether the services we fund deliver their core purpose.
yardstick usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"yardstick." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/yardstick>

APA Style

yardstick. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/yardstick

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