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
For many animal lovers, adopting a pet from a shelter is the gold standard.
—
Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
But what happens next could determine if 60 Minutes turns into jst another broadcast newsmagazine, or survives as the gold standard for the format.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
The following tests are considered the gold standard for diagnosing all levels of autism:14
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2): In ADOS-2, an evaluator observes a child or adult's social behavior during a structured interview.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2025
This trip was crafted to precision by the pros at Scott Dunn, the gold standard in bespoke travel.
—Marcia Desanctis, Air Mail, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the gold standard
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Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
But what happens next could determine if 60 Minutes turns into jst another broadcast newsmagazine, or survives as the gold standard for the format.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
The following tests are considered the gold standard for diagnosing all levels of autism:14
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2): In ADOS-2, an evaluator observes a child or adult's social behavior during a structured interview.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2025
This trip was crafted to precision by the pros at Scott Dunn, the gold standard in bespoke travel.
—Marcia Desanctis, Air Mail, 19 Apr. 2025
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 3 May. 2025.
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