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Synonyms

metric

1 American  
[me-trik] / ˈmɛ trɪk /

adjective

  1. pertaining to the meter or to the metric system.

noun

  1. Often metrics a standard for measuring or evaluating something, especially one that uses figures or statistics.

    new metrics for gauging an organization’s diversity;

    pretty good by any metric.
metric 2 American  
[me-trik] / ˈmɛ trɪk /

adjective

  1. pertaining to distance.

    metric geometry.

  2. metrical.

noun

  1. Mathematics. a nonnegative real-valued function having properties analogous to those of the distance between points on a real line, as the distance between two points being independent of the order of the points, the distance between two points being zero if, and only if, the two points coincide, and the distance between two points being less than or equal to the sum of the distances from each point to an arbitrary third point.

-metric 3 American  

  1. a combining form occurring in adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -meter (barometric ) or -metry (geometric ).

metric British  
/ ˈmɛtrɪk /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the metre or metric system

  2. maths denoting or relating to a set containing pairs of points for each of which a non-negative real number ρ( x, y ) (the distance) can be defined, satisfying specific conditions

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. maths the function ρ( x, y ) satisfying the conditions of membership of such a set (a metric space )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
metric Scientific  
/ mĕt′rĭk /

  1. Relating to the meter or the metric system.

Usage

What does -metric mean? The combining form -metric is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to a measure or the process of measurement.” It denotes the adjective form of words ending in -meter and -metry. The form -metric is often used in scientific terms.The form -metric comes from Greek -metrikos, meaning “of or relating to measure.” Find out how -metrikos is related to diameter, isometric, and metronome at our entries for these words.What are variants of -metric?While -metric doesn't have any variants, it's related to the form -metrics, as in biometrics. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -metrics.

Etymology

Origin of metric1

1860–65; < French métrique, derivative of mètre meter 1; -ic

Origin of metric2

1750–60; < Latin metricus < Greek metrikós of, relating to measuring. See meter 2, -ic

Origin of -metric3

< Greek -metrikos; meter 2, -metry, -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Paramount said it sees “a clear path” to investment-grade credit metrics within three years of the deal closing.

From The Wall Street Journal

He has two goals and four assists in those eight games since his return, yet for a man who has grown accustomed to the extraordinary, the key metric is where he is lacking.

From BBC

"These ideal cardiovascular health metrics are based on extensive scientific research that recognizes the majority -- as much as 80% -- of heart disease and stroke can be prevented," Rosen said.

From Science Daily

In the announcement, OpenAI cited a series of user metrics pointing to a breakneck pace of AI adoption.

From Barron's

The company has been trying to get more serious about profitability for several years, including streamlining organizational structures and focusing more on respected financial metrics.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.