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Original · left

Benchmark (surveying)

First in use: the 1800s
Duplicate · right

Benchmark (computing)

First in use: the 1970s

Benchmark / Benchmark (surveying) / Benchmark (computing)

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
Status—
Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Chisel marks on stone vs. MMLU.

Which meaning of Benchmark is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Benchmark (surveying) came first (the 1800s). Benchmark (computing) arrived in the 1970s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Benchmark (surveying)Benchmark (computing)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1800s

Benchmark (surveying)

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Duplicate · the 1970s

Benchmark (computing)

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More duplicated terms

AI & machine learning