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grade inflation

American

noun

Education.

the awarding of higher grades than students deserve either to maintain a school's academic reputation or as a result of diminished teacher expectations.
a rise in the average grade given to students.

grade inflation British

noun

an apparently continual increase in numbers of students attaining high examination grades, or the practice of awarding grades in this way

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of grade inflation

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A corollary concern is that grade inflation and other factors appear to be weakening the validity of this measure statewide.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026

A new report looks at grade inflation, a problem that is proliferating far beyond the Ivy League.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

New faculty reported surprise at how lenient grading is, and nearly all expressed “serious concern” about grade inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

Harvard students pushed back forcefully against a new University report condemning grade inflation, arguing that it misrepresented their academic experience and would add pressure to an already demanding campus environment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

Many blame grade inflation and an effort to avoid a high school dropout epidemic.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023