a standard of excellence, achievement, etc., against which similar things must be measured or judged: The new hotel is a benchmark in opulence and comfort.
2.
any standard or reference by which others can be measured or judged: The current price for crude oil may become the benchmark.
3.
Computers. an established point of reference against which computers or programs can be measured in tests comparing their performance, reliability, etc.
–adjective
4.
of, pertaining to, or resulting in a benchmark: benchmark test, benchmark study.
A standard by which something can be measured or judged: "Inflation . . . is a great distorter of seemingly fixed economic ideas and benchmarks"(Benjamin M. Friedman). See Synonyms at standard.
often bench mark A surveyor's mark made on a stationary object of previously determined position and elevation and used as a reference point in tidal observations and surveys.
tr.v.
bench·marked, bench·mark·ing, bench·marks To measure (a rival's product) according to specified standards in order to compare it with and improve one's own product.
[From the use of the mark as a place to insert an angle iron that serves as a support for a leveling rod.]
A standard by which something is measured. For example, bond yields are generally compared to benchmark yields on U.S. Treasury securities of similar maturity. Mutual fund performance is often compared to changes in the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index.
[bench-mahrk] 