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
Beneficial Lawn Weeds For decades, a pristine, weed-free lawn has served as the gold standard of the American landscape, but not all weeds are bad.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Light Oak Solid Hardwood Hardwood remains the gold standard in resale.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Section 122 is a relic of the 1970s, created after President Richard Nixon took the United States off the gold standard.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
An independent audit is the gold standard of financial accountability.
—Helen Amos, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the gold standard
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Light Oak Solid Hardwood Hardwood remains the gold standard in resale.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Section 122 is a relic of the 1970s, created after President Richard Nixon took the United States off the gold standard.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
An independent audit is the gold standard of financial accountability.
—Helen Amos, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 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 11 Mar. 2026.
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