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

In just as important a sense, not having a gold standard gave us Bitcoin. —Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

This kind of service is quickly becoming a relic in New York City hotels, but staff at The Peninsula are determined to uphold a gold standard. —Kenne Dibner, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2025

President Trump is delivering on every promise beyond my wildest dreams — ending war, protecting free speech, rebuilding American industry and the American middle class, delivering transparency and gold standard science, and breaking the grip of entrenched interests. —Sonam Sheth gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

Albert Pro remains Aetrex’s gold standard 3D scanner, at $2,995. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gold standard

• meandered
• nonstandard
• substandard
• slandered