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

• bar
• barometer
• benchmark
• criterion
• grade
• mark
• measure
• metric
• par
• standard
• touchstone
• yardstick

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

Concrete fears Makary appeared on the news program Face the Nation over the weekend and showed exactly how this emphasis on gold standard science can be abused. —ArsTechnica, 2 June 2025

The current gold standard to diagnose celiac disease in the U.S. remains a blood test followed by a biopsy via endoscopy. —Alex Backus, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025

The Buffett Method: Planned, Transparent, Long-Term Succession Warren Buffett's approach to succession offers a gold standard in planning ahead. —Jennifer J. Fondrevay, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

The current gold standard for measuring 3D GRFs is force plates and instrumented treadmills. —New Atlas, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gold standard

• meandered
• nonstandard
• substandard
• slandered