the gold standard
noun
1
: a system in which a unit of money (such as the dollar) is equal to a particular amount of gold
The United States was still on the gold standard in the early 20th century.
2
: something that is considered to be the best and that is used to judge the quality or level of other, similar things
This car is the gold standard for luxury automobiles.
the gold standard of stylish resorts
Examples of the gold standard in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From boardrooms to strategy sessions, from quarterly reviews to company-wide communications, being right has long been the gold standard of leadership credibility.
—
Mary Hemphill, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Colonoscopies are still considered the gold standard for detecting colorectal cancer, which starts in the colon or the rectum.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
And colonoscopy is still considered the gold standard test.
—Dr. Ari Goldstein, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Though the latter is generally known as the gold standard in skincare, retinal actually converts more efficiently into retinoic acid within the skin—delivering faster, more visible anti-aging results, helping to soften fine lines, refine texture, and improve overall skin clarity.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the gold standard
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Mary Hemphill, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Colonoscopies are still considered the gold standard for detecting colorectal cancer, which starts in the colon or the rectum.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
And colonoscopy is still considered the gold standard test.
—Dr. Ari Goldstein, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Though the latter is generally known as the gold standard in skincare, retinal actually converts more efficiently into retinoic acid within the skin—delivering faster, more visible anti-aging results, helping to soften fine lines, refine texture, and improve overall skin clarity.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the gold standard
Cite this Entry
“The gold standard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20gold%20standard. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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