yardstick noun

ADJ. good, useful | common

VERB + YARDSTICK have We don't have a common yardstick by which to compare the two cases. | apply, use | give sb, provide (sb with), serve as | measure sth against/by

PREP. against a ~ The new test provides a yardstick against which to measure children's learning. | by a ~ By any yardstick, that's a large amount of money.