reference point
noun
: something that is used to judge or understand something else
The professor used the study as a reference point for evaluating and discussing other theories.
Examples of reference point in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And in the process of monetizing identity, the industry has created a generation of consumers who don’t know how to dress without a reference point.
—
Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 8 July 2025
New Girl, perhaps Adults’s clearest reference point, took nearly a full network season to tone down Jess’s tweeness and two seasons to heighten Winston as a delightfully weird fan favorite, yet Adults has to try to nail it out of the gate.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 4 June 2025
Pittman’s 2024 extension, when the 26-year-old signed for $23.3 million annually after a 109-catch season, is a solid reference point.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
Since her breakout in 2020, the 24-year-old has carved out a distinct space in the pop landscape, her signature sound is now a reference point for a new generation of artists.
—Gabrielle MacAfee, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reference point
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Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 8 July 2025
New Girl, perhaps Adults’s clearest reference point, took nearly a full network season to tone down Jess’s tweeness and two seasons to heighten Winston as a delightfully weird fan favorite, yet Adults has to try to nail it out of the gate.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 4 June 2025
Pittman’s 2024 extension, when the 26-year-old signed for $23.3 million annually after a 109-catch season, is a solid reference point.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
Since her breakout in 2020, the 24-year-old has carved out a distinct space in the pop landscape, her signature sound is now a reference point for a new generation of artists.
—Gabrielle MacAfee, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reference point
Cite this Entry
“Reference point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reference%20point. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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