A rubric is a set of rules or instructions, for example the rules at the beginning of an examination paper.
[formal]
Either she had been poorly prepared by her teachers or the exam rubric was unclear.
2. countable noun
A rubric is a title or heading under which something operates or is studied.
[formal]
The aid comes under the rubric of technical co-operation between governments.
rubric in British English
(ˈruːbrɪk)
noun
1.
a title, heading, or initial letter in a book, manuscript, or section of a legal code, esp one printed or painted in red ink or in some similarly distinguishing manner
2.
a set of rules of conduct or procedure
3.
a set of directions for the conduct of Christian church services, often printed in red in a prayer book or missal
4.
instructions to a candidate at the head of the examination paper
5. an obsolete name for red ochre
adjective
6.
written, printed, or marked in red
Derived forms
rubrical (ˈrubrical)
adjective
rubrically (ˈrubrically)
adverb
Word origin
C15 rubrike red ochre, red lettering, from Latin rubrīca (terra) red (earth), ruddle, from ruber red
rubric in American English
(ˈrubrɪk)
noun
1.
in early books and manuscripts, a chapter heading, initial letter, specific sentence, etc. printed or written in red, decorative lettering, etc.
2.
any heading, title, etc., as of a chapter or section
3.
a direction, as in a prayer book, for conducting religious services
4.
an explanatory comment, or gloss
5.
the title or a heading of a law
6.
an established custom or rule of procedure
adjective
7.
inscribed in red
8. Archaic
red or reddish
Word origin
ME rubryke < MFr rubriche < L rubrica, red ocher, hence title (esp. of a law) written in red, rubric < ruber, red
Examples of 'rubric' in a sentence
rubric
Inside, beneath the rubric, Apey Birthday, was a handwritten message.
Stewart, Michael COMPULSION (2001)
My trip, of course, made today's Herald under the rubric of Whitfield Notes.