touchstone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The actor, who died Wednesday of cancer, will be best known to a generation of viewers for his role on the WB teen drama that became a cultural touchstone for many.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Founded by storyteller Anant Pai after he noticed children on a quiz show knew more about Greek gods than their own mythological heroes, ACK quickly became a cultural touchstone.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

It is also consistent with the Supreme Court’s admonition that the touchstone of the Fourth Amendment is whether the search or seizure is “reasonable,” not whether it is supported by a judicial warrant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

Metaphorically, the answer must be yes, because any fragment can be used as a touchstone for meditation and memory making, whether in a cathedral or Neolithic stone circle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Its Olympian tone made it a perennial touchstone at those political occasions requiring platitudinous wisdom.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis