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Synonyms

gold star

American  

noun

  1. a gold-colored star displayed, as on a service flag, to indicate that a member of one's family, organization, or the like, was killed in war as a member of the armed forces.

  2. Informal.

    1. symbolic approval or recognition for outstanding merit or effort.

      You get the gold star for cooking such a gourmet dinner.

    2. anything that represents an outstanding effort or achievement.

      Her promotion was the gold star she'd been working for.


Other Word Forms

  • gold-star adjective

Etymology

Origin of gold star

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

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.

Dima's commander, Alexei Ksenofontov, was awarded the Gold Star, the highest state medal, and made a "Hero of Russia" in 2024.

From BBC

Hsiao sees healthcare as the “gold star example” of a sector getting AI right, as these firms have used it for years to speed up molecule discovery.

From Barron's

Hsiao sees healthcare as the “gold star example” of a sector getting AI right, as these firms have used it for years to speed up molecule discovery.

From Barron's

Some can potentially be repaired in the US, he said, including the most expensive card that was stolen - a £4,000 Latias Gold Star card.

From BBC

AI training might not be a gold star that lands you a job, but it is something you can work into your narrative.

From The Wall Street Journal