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
Most of the available medical marijuana products on the market have not been tested in large-scale clinical trials—the gold standard for determining whether a treatment or intervention is safe and effective.
—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
The Joint Commission, widely regarded as the gold standard in health care, evaluates organizations through rigorous and often unannounced inspections, ensuring that patient care, safety protocols, and clinical operations consistently meet the highest standards.
—Ascend Agency, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Both rookie and veteran flight attendants pointed me to this Travelpro carry-on, which feels like the gold standard.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026
The annuals that practically grow themselves Zinnias are the gold standard for first-time gardeners.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the gold standard
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
The Joint Commission, widely regarded as the gold standard in health care, evaluates organizations through rigorous and often unannounced inspections, ensuring that patient care, safety protocols, and clinical operations consistently meet the highest standards.
—Ascend Agency, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Both rookie and veteran flight attendants pointed me to this Travelpro carry-on, which feels like the gold standard.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026
The annuals that practically grow themselves Zinnias are the gold standard for first-time gardeners.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 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 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
