rubric

noun

ru·bric ˈrü-brik

-ˌbrik

Synonyms of rubric next

: an authoritative rule

especially : a rule for conduct of a liturgical service

b(1)

: name, title

specifically : the title of a statute

(2)

: something under which a thing is classed : category

the sensations falling under the general rubric, "pressure"—

F. A. Geldard

: an explanatory or introductory commentary : gloss

specifically : an editorial interpolation

: a heading of a part of a book or manuscript done or underlined in a color (such as red) different from the rest

: an established rule, tradition, or custom

: a guide listing specific criteria for grading or scoring academic papers, projects, or tests

rubric adjective

or rubrical

ˈrü-bri-kəl

rubrically

ˈrü-bri-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Did you know?

Centuries ago, whenever manuscript writers inserted special instructions or explanations into a book, they put them in red ink to set them off from the black used in the main text. (They used the same practice to highlight saints' names and holy days in calendars, a practice which gave us the term red-letter day.) Ultimately, such special headings or comments came to be called rubrics, a term that traces back to ruber, the Latin word for "red." While the printing sense remains in use today, rubric also has an extended sense referring to any class or category under which something is organized.

Examples of rubric in a Sentence

the rubrics at the beginning of the chapters are intended to be humorous the rubric, popular among jewelers anyway, that a man should spend a month's salary on his fiancée's engagement ring

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.

Dakota Johnson, in particular, is almost always a good rubric for perfect boho styling. —

Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2025 The identical rubric is found on payment pages for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. —

David Phelan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 The rubric made its first appearance in March 1984 as a function of the magazine’s redesign that followed by two months Apple’s bringing forth the first of its Macintosh computers. —

Harper’s Magazine, Harper's Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024 Dolman also spearheaded the formation of the house’s Modern & Contemporary Art Department, combining modern, postwar and contemporary art under the rubric. —

News Desk, Artforum, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for rubric

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rubrike red ocher, heading in red letters of part of a book, from Anglo-French, from Latin rubrica, from rubr-, ruber red

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of rubric was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rubric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubric. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

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Kids Definition

rubric

noun

ru·bric ˈrü-brik

: a name or heading under which something is classified : classification

different problems under the general rubric of ecology

: an explanation or set of instructions at the beginning of a text (as a book)

: a guide listing criteria for grading or scoring tests, projects, or papers

Legal Definition

rubric

noun

ru·bric ˈrü-brik

: an established rule, tradition, or custom

Last Updated: 2 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences

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rubric

noun

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Synonyms

Examples of rubric in a Sentence

Word History

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Dictionary Entries Near rubric

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