plural touchstones
1
: a fundamental or quintessential part or feature : basis
a touchstone film of that decade
now considered a touchstone of the city's life Michael Specter
2
: a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing
Good service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant.
3
: a black siliceous stone related to flint that is used to test the purity of gold and formerly silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal

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Since the early 16th century, touchstone has referred to a particular kind of siliceous stone (that is, stone containing silica) used to do a particular job: determine the purity of precious metals. The process involves comparing marks made by rubbing a sample of a metal of known purity to marks made by a metal of unknown purity. The method is accurate enough in the case of determining the purity of gold that it is still in use today. Figurative use extended from this literal use, with touchstone functioning as a word for a test or criterion to determine the quality of a thing, and later to refer to a fundamental or quintessential part or feature of something.

Choose the Right Synonym for touchstone

standard, criterion, gauge, yardstick, touchstone mean a means of determining what a thing should be.

standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

Examples of touchstone in a Sentence

Good service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant. his book has long been a touchstone for travel writing that aspires to be literature
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.
The movie remains a touchstone for aspiration, agency, and glamour. Shelton Boyd-Griffith, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2025 For those who skew slightly younger, that touchstone unquestionably is The Matrix. Jeremy Dauber, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025 Kelleher and Watson aim to bridge the two Austin identities to ensure Waterloo Records remains a touchstone as the city evolves. Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 29 July 2025 In the '90s and 2000s, not only were the Bad Boys movies inescapable, but the theme song of the same name — which also famously opens the long-running TV series Cops — was a cultural touchstone. Sarah Sprague, EW.com, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for touchstone

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of touchstone was in 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Touchstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchstone. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

1
: a black stone formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal
2
: a test for judging something

More from Merriam-Webster on touchstone

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