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 of gold standard

• 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

Individualized, tailored medical care, especially in a vulnerable population, is the new gold standard in care. —Lauren Arikan, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026

Fan Expo Denver 2026, which already boasts a gold standard of sci-fi, fantasy, horror and gaming celebrities, is getting even shinier. —John Wenzel, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026

Instead, we’ve been trained to obsess over IQ, which has been our culture’s gold standard for aptitude since the early 20th century. —Big Think, 4 Mar. 2026

The Los Angeles Rams are maybe the current gold standard of separating organizational responsibilities with some insulation for ownership and clear demarcations of who is in charge of what. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gold standard

• meandered
• nonstandard
• substandard
• slandered