gold star

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gold star¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

Footage from the far eastern city of Vladivostok, home to Russia's Pacific Fleet, showed mourners laying flowers at a makeshift memorial to Gudkov, who received the Gold Star medal of Hero of Russia in late 2023.

From BBC

Keane booked Gold Star Studios, cheap at $15 an hour, and brought in great session musicians as Ritchie’s backing band, including future Wrecking Crew members Earl Palmer and Carol Kaye.

From Los Angeles Times

Some veterans and Gold Star families have spoken out, calling the sales and slogans tone-deaf or disrespectful.

From Salon

The firm’s services will be dedicated to helping veterans, Gold Star families, law enforcement offices and first responders — all unarguably meritorious individuals deserving of support.

From Los Angeles Times

The president said the services will be dedicated to helping veterans, Gold Star families, law enforcement members and first responders.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accolade 
• advantage 
• bonus 
• bounty 
• championship 
• citation 
• crown 
• dividend 
• gold 
• honor 
• inducement 
• jackpot 
• medal 
• payoff 
• purse 
• reward 
• scholarship 
• title 
• trophy 
• windfall