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 The Women’s Health Initiative and the HABITS trial were both larger randomized trials, which are gold standards in research. — Versha Pleasant, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 While charcoal grills are the affordable gold standard for many home cooks, gas grills can do nearly everything a charcoal grill can (just with slightly less smoky flavor). — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026 The Milwaukee Brewers remain in first place in the National League Central, a baseball industry gold standard for pitching development and small-market efficiency. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 29 June 2026 For most of those 20 years, Tesco’s Dunnhumby was the analytics gold standard. — Aneesh Reddy, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gold standard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gold standard
  1. standard
  2. criterion
  3. benchmark
Noun
  • BlackBerry has crafted its software to have high safety standards, a non-negotiable for cars and other moving objects.
    — Arjun Kharpal,Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • If hotel quality is your at-home standard, consider this Martha Stewart comforter that’s filled with premium goose down for cloud-like comfort.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of standard
Noun
  • Here are the stocks that met that criteria and were also up more than 5% on the week.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The tropical disturbance influencing Sunday's forecast is expected to move west, dropping the probability of weather violating launch criteria to about 30% — offering a 70% chance of acceptable conditions.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of criterion
Noun
  • Across a full ten-year window Pandora has lagged a broad equity benchmark; shorter windows since 2019 look better.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Fed's benchmark overnight lending rate influences borrowing costs across the economy.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gold standard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gold standard

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