WORD OF THE DAY: RUBRIC

noun ROO-brik

What It Means

Rubric is a somewhat formal word that is most often used to mean “an established rule, tradition, or custom” or “something under which a thing is classed.” In the latter use it is a synonym of category.

// Despite their widely divergent tones and levels of age appropriateness, Friday the 13th, Gremlins, and Frankenweenie all fall under the general rubric of horror movies.

RUBRIC in Context

“Contrary to all the messages urging parents to do more for their kids, a growing number of research studies point to the advantages of doing less. Much of that research comes under the rubric of autonomy-supportive parenting, which essentially means allowing and encouraging kids to take greater charge of their own lives and do more for themselves.” — Peter Gray, Psychology Today, 30 May 2022

Merriam Webster Dictionary