grade inflation
noun
: a rise in the average grade assigned to students
especially
: the assigning of grades higher than previously assigned for given levels of achievement
Examples of grade inflation in a Sentence
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Columbia’s statement aligns with arguments made by proponents of standardized testing, who say the SAT and ACT are valuable metrics to predict academic performance on campus and career readiness, and cut through the noise of grade inflation at some high schools.
—
Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Indiana University had been wrestling with grade inflation long before ChatGPT, with grade-distribution reporting dating back to faculty debates in the 1970s.
—Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
The usual response is to clap, which the phenomenon of grade inflation is turning into routine standing ovations.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2026
Readers respond to the news, including grade inflation, climate change and Democrats' 2024 autopsy.
—Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 27 May 2026
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Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Indiana University had been wrestling with grade inflation long before ChatGPT, with grade-distribution reporting dating back to faculty debates in the 1970s.
—Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
The usual response is to clap, which the phenomenon of grade inflation is turning into routine standing ovations.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2026
Readers respond to the news, including grade inflation, climate change and Democrats' 2024 autopsy.
—Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grade inflation
Cite this Entry
“Grade inflation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grade%20inflation. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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