metric

1 of 3

noun

met·​ric ˈme-trik How to pronounce metric (audio)
1
metrics plural : a part of prosody that deals with metrical (see metrical sense 1) structure
the analytical study of metricT. S. Eliot
2
: a standard of measurement
no metric exists that can be applied directly to happinessScientific Monthly
3
: a mathematical function that associates a real nonnegative number analogous to distance with each pair of elements in a set such that the number is zero only if the two elements are identical, the number is the same regardless of the order in which the two elements are taken, and the number associated with one pair of elements plus that associated with one member of the pair and a third element is equal to or greater than the number associated with the other member of the pair and the third element

metric

2 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, or using the metric system
a metric study

-metric

3 of 3

adjective combining form

variants or -metrical
1
: of, employing, or obtained by (such) a meter
galvanometric
2
: of or relating to (such) an art, process, or science of measuring
geometrical

Did you know?

The metric system was invented in France in the years following the French Revolution, and a version of it is now used in most of the world to measure distance, weight, and volume. Basic metric units include the kilogram (the basic unit of weight), the liter (the basic unit of volume), and of course the meter (the basic unit of length—see below). Metric—or more often metrical—can also refer to the basic underlying rhythm of songs and poetry. So while the scientists' measurements are usually metric, the poets' are usually metrical.

Examples of metric in a Sentence

Noun according to the usual metrics by which we judge fiction, this novel is an utter failure Adjective The metric unit of energy is the “joule.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The small South Asian country inspired much of the recent research into happiness because of its long focus on it as a key metric of government performance. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Erik Loomis is an associate professor of history and the director of graduate studies at the University of Rhode Island, and has written about why standardized testing should return as a metric for admissions. Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 In 1992, the ONS decided to drop them as a metric just as the demand for CDs was rising. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 With this metric in mind, 9Barista makes an excellent espresso, especially for a device without the same temperature and pressure controls of a luxe electric espresso machine. Noah Kaufman, Bon Appétit, 11 Mar. 2024 As the importance of technical design decisions, such as the precise metric an AI is tasked with optimizing, becomes more widely understood, states are likely to try to force firms to disclose them—but also to try to prohibit those firms from sharing this information with other governments. Aziz Huq, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024 According to a lawsuit filed against Facebook in California federal court in 2016, viewership metrics on some videos had been artificially increased by up to 900 percent. Taylor Lorenz, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 In any event, Chiarello’s story did little to assuage reservation holders already worried about buying a truck with apparent structural defects like misaligned panels, not to mention potentially weak performance metrics. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 Other engagement metrics such as podcast downloads, site comments, and social video views all grew significantly year over year. Verge Press Room, The Verge, 4 Mar. 2024
Adjective
No pitcher induced a larger percentage of contact on the ground last season than Webb, while only two rated out worse — according to a metric developed by Statcast — at keeping the running game in check. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024 Of course, this metric looks specifically at rich Gen Xers as opposed to the generation as a whole, and this is where the reason for the shift may become clear. Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Defect Density One metric companies should track when outsourcing developers is their defect density, which represents the number of bugs and errors found per 1,000 lines of code. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 In much the same way, setting performance metric benchmarks is a cornerstone of successful AI integrations. Daniel Knauf, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 As a result, when a solar PV cell’s efficiency is rated, a single metric suffices. IEEE Spectrum, 21 Feb. 2024 Shares of Lyft briefly rocketed more than 60 percent Tuesday when the company issued an earnings report that included an extra zero in its profit-margin forecast for a metric known as earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization. Aaron Gregg, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Spanning most of the southern and southeastern parts of the county, the district is massive by any metric, encompassing parts of 32 cities, including Long Beach and Torrance. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 According to Venture Global, the facility would have a nameplate export capacity of 20 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG and a peak capacity of about 24 MTPA. Thomas Catenacci, Fox News, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metric.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

metric "metrical art, prosody" (in part borrowed from Late Latin metrica —short for ars metrica "metrical art"— from feminine of Latin metricus "metrical, rhythmic," borrowed from Greek metrikós; in part borrowed from Greek metrikḗ —short for metrikḕ téchnē "metrical craft"— or metriká, from, respectively, feminine singular and neuter plural of metrikós "by measurement, metrical") + -ics; (senses 2-3) probably noun derivative of metric "of measurement," earliest in mathematical use, probably after German Metrik — more at metrical

Adjective

borrowed from French métrique, from mètre meter entry 3 + -ique -ic entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metric was in 1760

Dictionary Entries Near metric

Cite this Entry

“Metric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metric. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

metric

adjective
met·​ric
ˈme-trik
1
: of, relating to, or based on the metric system
2

Medical Definition

metric

adjective
met·​ric ˈme-trik How to pronounce metric (audio)
: of, relating to, or using the metric system
a metric study
metrically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on metric

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