standard 1 of 2

noun

ˈstan-dərd How to pronounce standard (audio)
Definition of standardnext
1
as in criterion
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared the animation in that movie set the standard against which all later animated cartoons were judged

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2
as in flag
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling a ship flying the queen's standard

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3
as in normal
what is typical of a group, class, or series somewhat shorter than the standard for boys that age

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4
as in morality
standards plural the code of good conduct for an individual or group a life guided by high standards

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standard

2 of 2

adjective

1
as in usual
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events a standard bandage is all that that wound needs

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2
as in typical
having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind he's pretty much your standard high-school jock

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3
as in conventional
accepted, used, or practiced by most people standard procedure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun standard contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of standard are criterion, gauge, touchstone, and yardstick. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

In what contexts can criterion take the place of standard?

The meanings of criterion and standard largely overlap; however, criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

When can gauge be used instead of standard?

While the synonyms gauge and standard are close in meaning, gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

When could touchstone be used to replace standard?

While in some cases nearly identical to standard, touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

How are the words yardstick and criterion related as synonyms of standard?

Yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of standard
Noun
Our editors hold the same standard and don’t program content identified as slop or spam. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026 They are held to a standard that doesn't include entitlement, excuses, or any agenda other than TEAM. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Filling a standard 40 liter fuel tank costs roughly 96 dollars, consuming nearly 70% of a daily wage. — CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026 The traditional foot data collection process often incorporates historical specifications, manual measurements, and standard wear-testing feedback. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for standard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standard
  1. criterion
  2. flag
  3. normal
  4. morality
  5. usual
  6. typical
  7. conventional
  8. benchmark
Noun
  • That policy needs to evaluate prospective patients against criteria such as the patient’s needs and the agency’s ability to provide services, in relation to the current caseload, average case mix intensity, staffing and competence of staff.
    — Colin Conner II, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Studies have estimated that anywhere between 25% and 35% of the patient population would meet the current clinical criteria for gene therapy.
    — Steven Ross Johnson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of criterion
Noun
  • The music icon, who hails from Canada, announced the news on Instagram, sharing a photo of herself beaming while holding an American flag along with a video from her naturalization ceremony.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Some strategists, anticipating that the committee may raise flags, now try to get ahead of the process by submitting additional documentation, including filmmaker quotes and source materials, to explain why a film belongs in its intended category.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of flag
Noun
  • The company has been very good about adjusting to the new normal too, which is great.
    — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Three years after Israel’s invasion, Gazans are tentatively building a new normal in the rubble of their old lives.
    — Ghada Abdulfattah, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of normal
Noun
  • Not sincere, caring concern, and not questions about the legality or morality of Grace’s ultimatum.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Their morality, as Peter Thiel taught Sam Altman, is to become a monopoly — that’s the only true business, is to be a monopoly.
    — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of morality
Adjective
  • Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Its warped vocal harmonies are ripe and sour, including guest appearances from the band’s friends, and off-kilter squiggles on steel guitar deviate from their usual pattern.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • Minutes from the April 19 meeting outlined how the government opted for just one round of readiness checks before launching its emergency vaccination program due to time constraints, instead of the typical four rounds.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Such moves are typical of presidential hopefuls from both parties seeking to bolster their alliances nationwide.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of typical
Adjective
  • Compared to conventional microscopes, the Airscope offers a complete upgrade in neural imaging.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Grid current passes through silicon carbide transistors that switch at high frequency before sending it through a small conventional transformer, preserving the essential electrical isolation between the grid and everything downstream.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of conventional
Noun
  • The commercial benchmark, by comparison, showed continuous performance decay during testing.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In human medicine, research cites a benchmark of 10,000 steps per day as a threshold that, when combined with healthy nutrition, supports weight loss.
    — Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of benchmark

Phrases Containing standard

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stand-alone
standard
standard-bearer
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Cite this Entry

“Standard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standard. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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