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