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
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This is considered the gold standard for aging skin.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
This is considered the gold standard for aging skin.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
American and European universities have long been the gold standard in higher education, attracting top students from around the world to institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford—thanks in large part to their research prowess.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
These truly are the gold standard for headphones.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the gold standard
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
This is considered the gold standard for aging skin.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
American and European universities have long been the gold standard in higher education, attracting top students from around the world to institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford—thanks in large part to their research prowess.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
These truly are the gold standard for headphones.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 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 17 Apr. 2026.
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