litmus test
noun
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Litmus Test Has Scientific Origins
It was in the 14th century that scientists discovered that litmus, a mixture of colored organic compounds obtained from lichen, turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions and, thus, can be used as an acid-base indicator. Six centuries later, people began using litmus test figuratively. It can now refer to any single factor that establishes the true character of something or causes it to be assigned to one category or another. Often it refers to something (such as an opinion about a political or moral issue) that can be used to make a judgment about whether someone or something is acceptable or not.
Examples of litmus test in a Sentence
Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
France’s new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has signaled that the legislation could return to the agenda — providing something of a litmus test for those watching France’s efforts to rein in its deficits.
—Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
Madigan's trial was a litmus test for how politics is done in Illinois.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 12 Feb. 2025
Schwab prevailed against former Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown in a 2022 primary contest that served as a litmus test for whether Kansas voters believed the state’s election infrastructure was secure.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Litmus test.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litmus%20test. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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