double standard
noun
1
: a set of principles that applies differently and usually more rigorously to one group of people or circumstances than to another
especially
: a code of morals that applies more severe standards of sexual behavior to women than to men
2
Examples of double standard in a Sentence
She argued that society applies a double standard in dealing with women who commit adultery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Even some of Cunningham’s harshest critics see a double standard between her trajectory and that of her boss, Morris, who quickly got a new job, in H.R., in a nearby district.
—
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
The huge response to this question has revealed quite a double standard: The house belongs to the father and the daughter’s sexuality belongs to the mother.
—Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
People on social media criticized her, but her defenders wondered whether race created a double standard: Clark is white and Reese is Black.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
The perception of double standards is stronger than ever.
—Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
Pride’s success ought to have led to more Black voices in country music, but folks like Linda Martell still had to endure countless indignities, obstacles, and double standards.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2024
But in a new claim filed against the LAPD, Labrada argued former LAPD chief Michel Moore showed a double standard by not taking similar action against another top police official who had an inappropriate relationship with the same woman as Labrada.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
That seems like a double standard, Ballesteros said.
—Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
The official accused China of calling for an absurd double standard, given its years-old policy of blocking foreign social media apps.
—Eva Dou, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
The huge response to this question has revealed quite a double standard: The house belongs to the father and the daughter’s sexuality belongs to the mother.
—Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
People on social media criticized her, but her defenders wondered whether race created a double standard: Clark is white and Reese is Black.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
The perception of double standards is stronger than ever.
—Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
Pride’s success ought to have led to more Black voices in country music, but folks like Linda Martell still had to endure countless indignities, obstacles, and double standards.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2024
But in a new claim filed against the LAPD, Labrada argued former LAPD chief Michel Moore showed a double standard by not taking similar action against another top police official who had an inappropriate relationship with the same woman as Labrada.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
That seems like a double standard, Ballesteros said.
—Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
The official accused China of calling for an absurd double standard, given its years-old policy of blocking foreign social media apps.
—Eva Dou, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double standard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near double standard
Cite this Entry
“Double standard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20standard. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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