benchmark vs criterion

benchmark and criterion both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
benchmark	Yes	No	No	No
criterion	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, criterion is a hypernym of benchmark; that is, criterion is a word with a broader meaning than benchmark:

benchmark: a standard by which something can be measured or judged
criterion: a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated

Other hypernyms of benchmark include measure, standard, touchstone.

benchmark (noun)	criterion (noun)
a standard by which something can be measured or judged	the ideal in terms of which something can be judged
a surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point	a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated