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Metric

MET-rik /ˈmɛtrɪk/

nounB2

FormalTechnical

A standard for measuring or evaluating something, especially one that uses a numerical value.

In data analysis, a 'metric' is a quantifiable measure used to track and assess the status of a specific business process, trend, or objective. It's a key performance indicator.

The story behind the word. The word 'metric' comes from the Greek 'metron', meaning 'measure'. It entered English in the 17th century, initially referring to systems of measurement, particularly the metric system. Its modern business and data sense, referring to a quantifiable measure of performance, emerged in the late 20th century as organizations sought to track and evaluate their operations more systematically.

Word relationships

Measure: Broader term, can refer to any standard of comparison; 'metric' implies a specific, quantifiable indicator.
Indicator: Something that points to or shows something else; 'metric' is a specific type of quantifiable indicator.
Criterion: A principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided.

Subjectivity: Reliance on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions, rather than external facts.
Anecdote: A short, amusing, or interesting story about a real incident or person, not a quantifiable measure.

Commonly confused with

Goal: A 'goal' is an objective you aim to achieve. A 'metric' is a quantifiable measure used to track progress towards that goal.

Word family

metrical (adjective): relating to or composed in meter; relating to measurement.

Collocations

key metric
performance metric
track metrics
define metrics
business metric

Example sentences

"Customer satisfaction is a key metric we track to gauge the success of our service initiatives." In a business performance review.
"The team established several metrics, such as code coverage and bug density, to evaluate software quality." From a software development team.
"The primary metric for success in the experiment was the growth rate of the plant seedlings." In a scientific experiment.

Memory hook

A 'METRIC' helps you 'MEASURE' progress, like a tape measure. MEASURE with METRIC

When not to use

Do not use 'metric' for qualitative observations or subjective opinions. It specifically refers to quantifiable measures.

Fun facts

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are specific types of metrics that are crucial for evaluating the success of an organization or a particular activity.
The term 'metric' is also used in poetry to refer to the rhythmic structure of a verse.