Criteria is typically a plural noun referring to standards on which a judgement can be made. Its singular form is criterion, but evidence shows that criteria is frequently used as a singular as well as a plural.
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Criteria are often the particular requirements that someone or something must meet in order to be considered or qualify for something. An applicant for a job may be evaluated based on several criteria, including their education, experience, and references—each one of these standards is a criterion.
Just 16 percent said having knowledge and skills that apply to a specific field is the most important criteria they seek. An "ethnic" membership criterion that one would be embarrassed to invoke for any other purpose? This could, however, create a patchwork system of citizenship criteria.
In standard usage, the plural is generally criteria, although criterions is sometimes used as well. Properly speaking, the form criteria should never be a singular noun, and phrases like this criteria and single criteria are widely viewed as erroneous.
Although criteria is sometimes used as a singular, most often in speech and rather infrequently in edited prose, it continues strongly in use as a plural in standard English, with criterion as the singular.
The word 'criteria' comes from the Greek word 'kriteia' meaning 'a means of judgment.' In English, 'criteria' is the plural form of 'criterion,' which means a single standard or rule.
It met all our criteria; a stable employment, reasonably priced homes, a state college and a regional hospital. Few cases met fell within our criteria. So also he has drawn a close parallel between the moral and the aesthetic criteria.