criterions

Criterion (plural criteria) is a standard by which something is judged or decided. The word derives from Greek kriterion via Latin and French, and it has widespread use across philosophy, science, law, and everyday evaluation.

In modern English, the preferred plural is criteria; criterion for a single standard. "Criterions" is historically attested but is considered nonstandard or archaic by many dictionaries and style guides, and it is rarely used in formal writing.

In practice, criteria are the requirements or benchmarks used to assess options, actions, or outcomes. They can be descriptive or normative and may be qualitative or quantitative. In research and decision making, criteria are enumerated as evaluation factors, such as safety, effectiveness, cost, or feasibility. In statistics, the term appears in phrases like information criterion, used for model selection, with criteria serving as the plural form of criterion.

Examples: The job posting lists three criteria: relevant experience, education level, and communication skills. The project will be funded if all criteria are met, including budget adherence and schedule reliability. In policy or regulatory language, criteria define the conditions under which a decision is justified or a program is deemed acceptable.

See also: criterion; criteria. Note that while some writers may encounter criterions, the standard plural in contemporary usage remains criteria.