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
  • The agreement Hansen describes would be a much larger legal matter than a standard screening NDA, and would not be asked of other individuals screening the film — including press and third-party marketing agencies.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • This means clear standards, thoughtful planning and investment in new energy generation and transmission.
    — Frances Townsend, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of standard
Noun
  • Outrageousness seems to be the point of these battles, which have no apparent criteria, judges, or rules.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Focusing on relevance means embedding inclusive practices directly into hiring criteria, project assignments, promotion pipelines, and performance reviews.
    — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of criterion
Noun
  • There's no public benchmark for what a whole cluster fetches when the seller has no choice.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Because Treasuries are the biggest bond market, lenders like banks use them as a benchmark for deciding how much interest to charge their own customers.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 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 26 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gold standard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gold standard

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