Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

benchmark

/ˈbɛnt͡ʃmɑɹk/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.60 in modern English

Syllables: bench-mark
IPA: /ˈbɛnt͡ʃmɑɹk/

22

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A standard by which something is evaluated or measured.

noun

A surveyor's mark made on some stationary object and shown on a map; used as a reference point.

noun

A computer program that is executed to assess the performance of the runtime environment.

verb

To measure the performance or quality of (an item) relative to another similar item in an impartial scientific manner.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

verb

To measure the performance or quality of (an item) relative to another similar item in an impartial scientific manner.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Near-synonym: criterion"
"Is the pope Catholic? Forgive the posing of a question that is usually rhetorical, the absolute benchmark of certainty, and traditionally regarded as even more settled than the one pertaining to the lavatorial arrangements of bears."
"In a press release, CARB expanded on their decision. "The LCFS reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by setting a declining carbon intensity target for transportation fuels used in California; producers that don't meet established benchmarks buy credits from those that do. This system has generated $4 billion in annual private sector investment toward a cleaner transportation sector.""
"Near-synonym: datum"

Etymology

From bench + mark. First use appears c. 1842. Originally a mark cut into a stone by land surveyors to secure a bench (from land surveying jargon in the 19th century, meaning a type of bracket), to mount measuring equipment. The figurative sense first appears c. 1884.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈbɛnt͡ʃmɑɹk/
British English: /ˈbɛnt͡ʃmɑːk/

Usage

Inflected Forms

benchmarks (plural) bench mark (alternative) benchmarks (present, singular) benchmarking (participle, present) benchmarked (participle, past) benchmarked (past)

Derived Forms

benchmarkable benchmarker benchmarketing microbenchmark rebenchmark unbenchmarked

Phrases

non-benchmark canned benchmark

Synonyms

criterion datum kitemark yardstick bench mark

Questions

How do you pronounce benchmark?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɛnt͡ʃmɑɹk/.
What does benchmark mean?: A standard by which something is evaluated or measured.
Where does benchmark come from?: From bench + mark. First use appears c. 1842. Originally a mark cut into a stone by land surveyors to secure a bench (from land surveying jargon in the 19th century, meaning a type of bracket), to mount measuring equipment. The figurative sense first appears c. 1884.

How to pronounce benchmark

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