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

For reporters covering the war in Ukraine, access to the front line seems to remain a kind of gold standard, with the implication that the closer one is to explosions and violence, the closer one is to the true reality of war. — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

The ratios offer a little more room for expenses by putting a little less toward savings than the longstanding gold standard, the 50/30/20 budget. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 7 Sep. 2026

Why the ancient art of tai chi is modern science’s gold standard for balance training. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

His 108 football wins at CSU from 1993-2007 put the Rams on the map and remains the program’s gold standard. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gold standard

• meandered
• nonstandard
• substandard
• slandered