yardstick.

1. A standard used to compare or assess something.

2. A measuring rule one yard long.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• common yardstick
• yardstick for success

On the page

Cost alone is an inadequate yardstick for success.

Usage notes

Primary category: analysis / argumentation / evidence. Forms: Singular yardstick; plural yardsticks. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: argumentation, evidence, inference. Commonness: moderately common.