# benchmarking

/bˈɛntʃmɑːkɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/benchmarking
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

the process of comparing your work or results to a standard or to other people's work to see how well you are doing.

For teachers: the practice of comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry best practices or other companies. Often used to identify areas for improvement or to establish a standard of excellence.

## Examples

- The company uses benchmarking to improve its customer service.
- By conducting regular benchmarking against its competitors, the firm identified that its delivery times were significantly slower than the industry average.
- Strategic benchmarking involves a systematic analysis of how other organizations achieve superior results, allowing a company to adopt proven methods while avoiding the pitfalls of direct imitation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.