metric
MEHT-rihk
Metric (adjective) means relating to the metric system of measurement, based on units like metres, litres, and grams. Example: “My recipe book uses metric weights, so I measure the flour in grams.”
adjective
1
Relating to the metric system of measurement, based on units like metres, litres, and grams.
"My recipe book uses metric weights, so I measure the flour in grams."
"Britain uses a mixture of metric and imperial units on its road signs and in shops."
"Most of the world uses metric measurements rather than imperial ones."
noun
1
A standard of measurement used to evaluate performance or quality.
"Page views are an easy metric to track, but they don't show everything."
"The teacher chose a new metric to judge how much the class had improved."
"Customer satisfaction is one of the key metrics the company tracks."
How to use metric
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "based on the metric measurement system", or (as a noun) a specific measure used to judge performance.
Common pairings
metric system
performance metrics
key metrics
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- metrics
- Past tense
- metricked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My recipe book uses _____ weights, so I measure the flour in grams.
Etymology
From French métrique, from New Latin metricus, ultimately from Greek metron ("measure").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for metric
See all rhymes for metric →Frequently asked questions
What does “metric” mean?
The word “metric” means relating to the metric system of measurement, based on units like metres, litres, and grams. In plain terms, either "based on the metric measurement system", or (as a noun) a specific measure used to judge performance.
How do you pronounce “metric”?
“Metric” is pronounced MEHT-rihk (/ˈmɛt.ɹɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “metric” in a sentence?
Here is “metric” used in a sentence: “Most of the world uses metric measurements rather than imperial ones.”
What part of speech is “metric”?
Depending on how it is used, “metric” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “metric” come from?
The word “metric” comes from New Latin. From French métrique, from New Latin metricus, ultimately from Greek metron ("measure").
Is “metric” a common word?
“Metric” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “metric” have?
“Metric” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the metric system of measurement, based on units like metres, litres, and grams.
What is the difference between a metric and a measure?
A metric is a defined standard used to evaluate performance or quality, while a measure is the raw quantity or value obtained. In practice a metric usually interprets or combines measures to track something meaningful, such as a success rate.
What is the difference between metric and imperial?
Metric refers to the measurement system based on units like metres, litres, and grams, while imperial (and the related US customary system) uses units such as feet, pounds, and gallons. Most countries use the metric system, whereas imperial or US customary units remain common in a few, notably the United States for everyday measurements.
What is the difference between a metric and a KPI?
A metric is any standard of measurement used to evaluate performance or quality, while a KPI (key performance indicator) is a specific metric singled out as critical to a goal. All KPIs are metrics, but not every metric is a KPI.
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