Kritériu

Kritériu is a term used in several languages to denote a standard, measure, or condition by which something is judged, evaluated, or decided. In its broad sense, a kritériu functions as a criterion: a benchmark that defines what counts as acceptable, successful, or compliant in a given context. The concept is central to evaluation, selection processes, and quality assurance.

Etymologically, the word derives from the same root as criterion, traced through Latin criterion and French critère; various languages adapt the form as kritériu or similar spellings. Its use in technical writing or formal discourse often signals a structured, rule-based approach to assessment.

Practically, kritériu should be explicit, relevant, and, where possible, observable or measurable. They can be objective (quantitative scores) or subjective (expert judgment) and are typically organized as essential (must-have) and desirable (nice-to-have) criteria. Properly stated kritériu promote fairness, transparency, and replicability; poorly defined ones risk bias or arbitrariness.

Common applications include personnel hiring (education, experience, skills), research and clinical trials (inclusion and exclusion criteria), product testing (performance, safety, durability), and policy evaluation (impact indicators).

Because pluralization varies by language, the exact plural form of kritériu differs; related terms include criterion, criteria, and criterion validity.