Benchmark
/ˈbɛn(t)ʃˌmɑːrk/noun
A standard or point of reference used for comparison.
Did you know?The word began as a surveyor’s physical notch or mark, so every modern “benchmark” still carries the energy of a fixed line in the world that everything else must answer to.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
benc
“bench, seat”
Old English
OE
mearc
“boundary, sign, mark”
Middle English
ME
benche marke
“a mark cut or made on a bench or other surface as a reference point”
16th Century
English
benchmark
“a surveyor’s mark indicating elevation or position”
Modern English
English
benchmark
“a standard or reference point for comparison”