litmus test

noun

Synonyms of litmus test next

: a test in which a single factor (such as an attitude, event, or fact) is decisive

Did you know?

Litmus Test Has Scientific Origins

It was in the 14th century that scientists discovered that litmus, a mixture of colored organic compounds obtained from lichen, turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions and, thus, can be used as an acid-base indicator. Six centuries later, people began using litmus test figuratively. It can now refer to any single factor that establishes the true character of something or causes it to be assigned to one category or another. Often it refers to something (such as an opinion about a political or moral issue) that can be used to make a judgment about whether someone or something is acceptable or not.

Examples of litmus test in a Sentence

The party is using attitudes about gun control as a litmus test for political candidates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

They also will almost certainly be interpreted as a litmus test of President-elect Trump’s popularity and standing. —

Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 28 Nov. 2024 Think about tonight as a litmus test: The NFL’s best scoring defense trying to stop one of the hottest offenses. —

Andrew Greif, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024 Certainly that litmus test has never been truer than in past years. —

Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2024 The Hillsborough Commission race between state Rep. Sean Shaw (D) and firefighter Chris Boles (R) will serve as a litmus test for how red the county has become. —

Yacob Reyes, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for litmus test