meginviðmið

Meginviðmið is an Icelandic term meaning "main criterion" or "primary standard." It refers to a baseline framework or reference point used to assess, regulate, or compare phenomena across contexts.

Etymology: Derived from megin ("main") and viðmið ("standard" or "criterion"), the word signals a central or authoritative standard within a given framework.

Usage: Meginviðmið appears in public administration, education, law, statistics, and organizational planning to anchor guidance and comparisons. It can function as a baseline for reporting, a normative model for design, or a reference point in governance to ensure alignment with policy goals. In practice, stakeholders specify the meginviðmið that sets expectations for performance, quality, or compliance.

Relationship to related terms: It is closely related to viðmið (standard) and to broader concepts such as markmið (goal) and mælikvarði (measure/criterion). Meginviðmið is typically the most authoritative or central standard within a framework.

Usage note: The exact scope and application of meginviðmið vary by field and jurisdiction, and translations such as "primary standard" or "principal criterion" capture its general sense in English.