standard-bearer
Americannoun
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an officer or soldier of an army or military unit who bears a standard.
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a conspicuous leader of a movement, political party, or the like.
noun
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an officer or man who carries a standard
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a leader of a cause or party
Other Word Forms
- standard-bearership noun
Etymology
Origin of standard-bearer
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50
Explanation
A person who heads up a particular movement or group is its standard-bearer. The President of your French club is the ideal standard-bearer, with her beret and that perfect accent. A standard-bearer leads an organization, but also represents it. If a news story says that a new member of Congress is a standard-bearer for young conservatives, that means she speaks for many politicians who share those beliefs and is seen as a leader among them. This meaning comes from the original definition, "a soldier carrying (or bearing) the flag of a specific military unit or state."
Vocabulary lists containing standard-bearer
Flag Day
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Novel Study: I Am Malala
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for July 27–August 2, 2025
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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.
Sargeant is a complicated and at times controversial figure to emerge as the standard-bearer for U.S. business in Venezuela.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
The People's Party is facing a strong challenge from Anutin, who has built his once small, provincial Bhumjaithai - "Thai Pride" party - into the standard-bearer for Thai conservatives.
From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026
GameStop has $4.7 billion in net cash to deploy, up significantly from January 2021, when it became the standard-bearer of the meme-stock craze.
From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026
In that sense, it appeared more like an anointing than a procedural formality: the veteran of the American left passing the baton to a younger standard-bearer.
From Slate • Jan. 3, 2026
He sat a sorrel stallion, his standard-bearer a dapple grey.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
