standard-bearer

noun

stan·​dard-bear·​er ˈstan-dərd-ˌber-ər How to pronounce standard-bearer (audio)
1
: one who bears a standard or banner
2
: one that leads an organization, movement, or party
a standard-bearer for political reform

Examples of standard-bearer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two of the Democratic standard-bearers to emerge from last week’s elections—Abigail Spanberger, the incoming governor of Virginia, and Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City—have emphasized different sides of these arguments in recent days. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025 His campaign has drawn high-profile endorsements from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, reinforcing his status as the left’s standard-bearer in the race. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025 Daniel Naroditsky, a 29-year-old standard-bearer in the world of competitive speed chess that flourished in the COVID-19 pandemic, died over the weekend and leaves behind a legacy as one of the greats of the game who helped usher in its digital era. Corey Williams, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025 If Democrats hope to offer voters an alternative to Trumpism next election cycle, their standard-bearer cannot look like its mirror image. Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for standard-bearer

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of standard-bearer was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Standard-bearer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standard-bearer. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

standard-bearer

noun
stan·​dard-bear·​er
ˈstan-dərd-ˌbar-ər
-ˌber-
1
: one who bears a standard or banner
2
: the leader of an organization or movement

More from Merriam-Webster on standard-bearer

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