gold standard

noun

Definition of gold standardnext
as in standard
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared the gold standard for accurate experimental procedures is the double-blind medication trial

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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 gold standard Red Rocks remains the industry’s gold standard for outdoor amphitheaters. — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 13 June 2026 Montana is kind of a gold standard in terms of river access. — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 June 2026 However, Stewart, 31, still sets a gold standard for winning games, big, small, beautiful or, well, like this one. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026 Taiwan Semi remains the industry’s gold standard in chipmaking, but with the company operating near full capacity and the supply chain tigh t , Intel has an opportunity to win a lot of new foundry customers. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gold standard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gold standard
  1. standard
  2. criterion
  3. benchmark
Noun
  • But the breaking point came when his wife refused to let their young children near any of his half-century-old vehicles, which lacked air bags and the safety features standard in even the cheapest modern cars.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
  • Boards then need a position on industry-level governance participation (standards bodies, information-sharing arrangements, mutual grounding agreements) as a fiduciary matter, not a public-affairs nicety.
    — Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of standard
Noun
  • Candidates receiving the funding must abide by expenditure limits and adhere to the criteria set by statute, ordinance or charter to demonstrate broad support, such as demonstrate a large number of small dollar contributions.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Critics say the test rewards the smallest slice of the problem while ignoring Scope 3, the 80% to 95% of a producer's emissions that come from burning its fuel, and note the criteria echo the oil industry's own lobbying.
    — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of criterion
Noun
  • Over time, colleges have steadily reduced the number of objective benchmarks available for comparing applicants while increasing the role of institutional judgment.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Les Caves du Roy at Hôtel Byblos is an undisputed institution—open since 1967 and still the benchmark for a proper Saint-Tropez night out.
    — Karli Poliziani, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
Definition of benchmark

Browse Nearby Words

gold-plated
gold standard
gold standards
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Cite this Entry

“Gold standard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gold%20standard. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gold standard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gold standard

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