Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun gold_standard

2 senses of gold standard

Sense 1
gold standard -- (a monetary standard under which the basic unit of currency is defined by a stated quantity of gold)
       => standard, monetary standard -- (the value behind the money in a monetary system)

Sense 2
gold standard -- (a paragon of excellence; "academic education is the gold standard against which other educational activity is pejoratively judged")
       => paragon, idol, perfection, beau ideal -- (an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept)