criteria
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the set of rules or standards used to judge something or make a choice.
the plural of criterion, denoting the standards or principles used as a basis for evaluation or decision-making.
Simple“The main criteria for the job are good communication skills and three years of experience.”
In context“The selection committee established rigorous criteria to ensure that only the most qualified candidates proceeded to the final interview stage.”
UsageTechnically plural, though often used as a singular collective noun in informal speech.
Teacher's tipWhile many native speakers use 'criteria' as a singular noun, students should use 'criterion' for the singular in academic writing to avoid being marked down.
PitfallWhat is the main criteria for this project? What is the main criterion for this project?In formal English, 'criteria' is plural. Use 'criterion' when referring to only one standard.
Synonyms
“The so-called Rodman rule allows teams to spend $1m outside the standard salary cap for players who meet certain criteria.”
“To be effective, human tutoring needs to meet certain criteria.”
The plural form of criterion, formed according to the Ancient Greek -ον (-on) → -α (-a) pluralisation pattern.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.