# Mendoza

/mɛnˈdoʊzə/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mendoza
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a specific level or line used to judge if something is good enough or successful. It often refers to a minimum standard in sports or business.

For teachers: a metaphorical threshold or benchmark used to evaluate performance, quality, or success. Often used in the phrase 'above the Mendoza line' to indicate a minimum level of acceptable competence.

## Examples

- His recent sales figures are finally above the Mendoza line.
- The rookie struggled early in the season, barely keeping his batting average above the Mendoza line before finding his rhythm.
- In the competitive world of tech startups, maintaining a user retention rate above the Mendoza line is often the primary metric investors use to determine future funding rounds.

## Usage notes

- Usually used with the definite article 'the' and often appears in the prepositional phrase 'above the' or 'below the'.

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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.