Criterio

Criterio is a noun used in Spanish and Italian to denote a standard, rule, or principle by which something is judged, decided, or classified. The English equivalent is criterion (singular) and criteria (plural); in Portuguese the form is critério. The term derives from Latin criterium, itself from the Greek kriterion, meaning a standard for judging.

In philosophy and logic, a criterion is a standard or test used to determine truth, validity, or proper categorization. In scientific research and policy analysis, criteria define the features that an entity or phenomenon must have to be included or considered acceptable, such as eligibility criteria for a study or criteria for quality assurance. In everyday use, criteria are the factors by which choices are compared and weighed, such as cost, reliability, or safety.

The plural and spelling vary by language: Spanish criterios; Italian criteri; Portuguese critério (singular) and critérios (plural). When writing across languages, it is common to translate or explain the English term criterion/criteria to avoid ambiguity.

See also: criterion, criteria, criterium. Etymology traces the word through Latin and Greek, reflecting its long-standing role as a tool for evaluation and decision-making.