point of reference
noun phrase
: something that is used to judge or understand something else
The professor used the study as a point of reference for evaluating and discussing other theories.
Examples of point of reference in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This makes sure all information that will be used later on is well-gathered and stored in a single point of reference.
—
Abdul Muqtadir Mohammed Zubair, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Healthcare providers use this bone as a point of reference when describing fetal position, as follows: It is described as:1
Occiput anterior: The occipital bone is at the front of the birthing person's body, so the fetus is facing backward.
—Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2024
In 1940, an English mathematician named Albert Ingham established an upper bound on the number of zeros whose real part is not equal to 1/2 that mathematicians continue to use as a point of reference today.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, WIRED, 4 Aug. 2024
Neighborhoods to Know Capri Town: The larger of the two main towns on the island, Capri and its principal piazza, the Piazzetta, are many visitors’ first point of reference.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2024
As a point of reference, the winning time in the 2020 Olympics in the 50-meter freestyle was 23.81; the eighth and final place was 24.41.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 12 July 2024
Like so many of us Americans, the war is my point of reference for Vietnam.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
The protesters’ point of reference is the 1980s campaign for divestment from apartheid South Africa.
—TIME, 9 May 2024
Depending upon your point of reference, most people know Terry Allen as the west Texas musician behind the conceptual outlaw country albums Juarez and Lubbock, or as the polymath multimedia artist who attended the Chouinard Art Institute and palled around with the Cool School.
—Michael Slenske, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2024
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Abdul Muqtadir Mohammed Zubair, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Healthcare providers use this bone as a point of reference when describing fetal position, as follows: It is described as:1
Occiput anterior: The occipital bone is at the front of the birthing person's body, so the fetus is facing backward.
—Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2024
In 1940, an English mathematician named Albert Ingham established an upper bound on the number of zeros whose real part is not equal to 1/2 that mathematicians continue to use as a point of reference today.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, WIRED, 4 Aug. 2024
Neighborhoods to Know Capri Town: The larger of the two main towns on the island, Capri and its principal piazza, the Piazzetta, are many visitors’ first point of reference.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2024
As a point of reference, the winning time in the 2020 Olympics in the 50-meter freestyle was 23.81; the eighth and final place was 24.41.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 12 July 2024
Like so many of us Americans, the war is my point of reference for Vietnam.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
The protesters’ point of reference is the 1980s campaign for divestment from apartheid South Africa.
—TIME, 9 May 2024
Depending upon your point of reference, most people know Terry Allen as the west Texas musician behind the conceptual outlaw country albums Juarez and Lubbock, or as the polymath multimedia artist who attended the Chouinard Art Institute and palled around with the Cool School.
—Michael Slenske, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near point of reference
Cite this Entry
“Point of reference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20of%20reference. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
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