SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
reference group
noun phrase
A group used as a standard for evaluating one's own attitudes, abilities, or circumstances.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Social standard for comparison
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA reference group influences comparison or standards; membership is not required. Peer group is narrower, and a research control group is a different use of comparison group.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See reference group in use
The novel's young professional treats a wealthy circle of friends as her reference group.
Nolan wanted to mount a solo exhibition, but an aspirational gap separated that goal from his current access to space, materials, and preparation time. His reference group consisted of former classmates whose public portfolios he used to assess his own progress.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license