grade inflation

noun

: a rise in the average grade assigned to students
especially : the assigning of grades higher than previously assigned for given levels of achievement

Examples of grade inflation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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McArdle problematizes grade inflation with no scholarly citations as evidence. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025 The report also observed grade inflation, with students needing remedial math at UCSD having average high school GPAs of 3.47 in 2019 to 3.65 in 2024. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 23 Nov. 2025 By virtue of those changes, digitizing college life has led to grade inflation, too. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025 The ivory tower is losing luster by the second, after campuses around the country proved to be hotbeds of antisemitism, grade inflation has spiked rather than dissipated, and outrageous tuitions fund outlandish administrative salaries. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grade inflation

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grade inflation was in 1975

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grade inflation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grade%20inflation. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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