Dictionary

yardstick en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈjɑːdˌstɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• yärdʹstĭkʹ (General-American)
• /ˈjɑɹdˌstɪk/ (General-American)

Etymology

From yard + stick.

Meanings

1. A measuring rod thirty-six inches (one yard) long.
2. (figuratively) A standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged.
   • The Court has taken a number of factors into consideration in performing the “balancing of interests test” while examining cases concerning limitations on the institution of paternity claims. […] The yardstick against which the above factors are measured is whether a legal presumption has been allowed to prevail over the biological and social reality and if so whether, in the circumstances, this is compatible with the obligation to secure “effective” respect for private and family life, taking into account the margin of appreciation left to the State and the established facts and the wishes of those concerned (ibid. § 55). 2017 March 10, European Court of Human Rights, Silva and Mondim Correia v. Portugal, number 72105/14 20415/15, marginal 58:
   • 2008 April 8, Michael R. Gordon and Eric Schmitt, “Attacks in Baghdad spiked in March, U.S. data show”, in International Herald Tribune, 2008 April 8 edition, “Africa & Middle East” section, Attacks against civilians in the capital remained relatively unchanged: 69 in March from 62 in February. ¶ However, another yardstick, the number of civilian deaths tracked by the Iraqi government, shot up last month after several months of decline.

Forms

Deriveds

Portsmouth yardstick

Relateds

metre stick

Synonyms

measuring rod · norm · metewand · benchmark · ideal · point of reference

Translations (47)

pt bitola (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · cmn 碼尺 /码尺 (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · ru ме́рка (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · hu zsinórmérték (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · ru арши́н (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · es vara (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · da målestok (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · pl kryterium (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · nb målestokk (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · hu mérce (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · es vara (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · hi मानदंड (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · hu fokmérő (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · pl miara (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · chr ᎠᏥᎶᏍᏗ (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · fa سنجه (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · bg мащаб (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · pl standard (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · pt parâmetro (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · pt critério (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · sv måttstock (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · gd slat-tomhais (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · bg аршин (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · gd slat-tomhais (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · ru мери́ло (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · pl calówka (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · hi मानदंड (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · ja 判断の尺度 (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · cmn 標準 /标准 (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · es reglón (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · tl pangyarda (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · it metro di misura (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · hu mérőléc (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · es norma (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · hu mérték (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · fi jaardin mitta (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · fi mittapuu (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · fi mittatikku (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · de Maßstab (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · ga slat tomhais (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · pt padrão (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · cmn 尺度 (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · hu mérőrúd (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · fr mètre étalon (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · nv bee ídaʼneelʼąąhí (measuring rod thirty-six inches long) · fr aune (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged) · hu etalon (standard to which other measurements or comparisons are judged)