gold standard

noun

1

: a monetary standard under which the basic unit of currency is defined by a stated quantity of gold and which is usually characterized by the coinage and circulation of gold, unrestricted convertibility of other money into gold, and the free export and import of gold for settling of international obligations

2

: benchmark sense 1a

Synonyms

• standard
• criterion
• benchmark

Examples of gold standard in a Sentence

the gold standard for accurate experimental procedures is the double-blind medication trial

Recent Examples on the Web

The barrier to a gold standard is economists rendered even more irrelevant by one, nothing else. —John Tamny, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025

The Courier Journal requested information regarding Trinity's gold standard sports medicine tools. —Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

The final diagnosis is compared to the NEJM's gold standard and assessed for both accuracy and cost. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

The two teams from the Sunshine State have been a gold standard in the NHL as of late. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gold standard

• meandered
• nonstandard
• substandard
• slandered