# touchstone

/ˈtətʃˌstoʊn/ (US) · /tˈʌtʃstəʊn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/touchstone
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a standard or test that helps you judge the quality or value of something. You use it to compare a new thing to a well-known example.

For teachers: a standard or criterion used to evaluate or judge the quality, authenticity, or value of something. Often used metaphorically to describe a benchmark against which other works or ideas are measured.

## Examples

- The new movie is a touchstone for modern horror films.
- The critic argued that the novel serves as a touchstone for the entire genre, influencing every writer that followed.
- While the artist's early works were experimental, his later pieces became the touchstone for the movement, defining its aesthetic and technical standards for decades.

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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.