gold standard

noun

1. a monetary system with gold of specified weight and fineness as the unit of value.

gold standard

noun

1. a monetary system in which the unit of currency is defined with reference to gold
2. the supreme example of something against which others are judged or measured

   the current gold standard for breast cancer detection

gold standard

1. A system in which a nation's currency has a value measured in gold and can be exchanged for gold. Most nations, including the United States, went off the gold standard in the 1930s.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gold standard¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

By combining data from arthroscopy, widely considered the gold standard for diagnosing pathology of knee abnormalities, researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis and identified 12 common types of knee abnormalities in these patients.

From Science Daily

His remit was to “clean up the corruption,” “end the conflicts of interest,” and “return those agencies to their rich tradition of gold standard, empirically based, evidence-based science, evidence-based medicine,” Kennedy said.

From Science Magazine

In some aspects England’s defence is even better than South Africa’s – a gold standard for working without the ball.

From BBC

This is the gold standard in the industry.

From Salon

In Colorado, Griswold said her team is prepared and confident in the state’s “gold standard” of election administration.

From Salon