standard

[ stan-derd ]

/ ˈstæn dərd /

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See synonyms for: standard / standards on Thesaurus.com

noun

something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model.

an object that is regarded as the usual or most common size or form of its kind: We stock the deluxe models as well as the standards.

a rule or principle that is used as a basis for judgment: They tried to establish standards for a new philosophical approach.

an average or normal requirement, quality, quantity, level, grade, etc.: His work this week hasn't been up to his usual standard.

standards, those morals, ethics, habits, etc., established by authority, custom, or an individual as acceptable: He tried to live up to his father's standards.

a grade of beef immediately below good.

the authorized exemplar of a unit of weight or measure.

a certain commodity in or by which a basic monetary unit is stated.Compare gold standard, silver standard, bimetallism, monometallism.

the legally established content of full-weight coins.

the prescribed degree of fineness for gold or silver.

British. a class or grade in elementary schools.

a musical piece of sufficiently enduring popularity to be made part of a permanent repertoire, especially a popular song.

a flag indicating the presence of a sovereign or public official.

a flag, emblematic figure, or other object raised on a pole to indicate the rallying point of an army, fleet, etc.

Military.

any of various military or naval flags.
the colors of a mounted unit.
Standard, a U.S. Navy radar-guided surface-to-air missile with a range of 10–30 miles (16–48 km).

Heraldry. a long, tapering flag or ensign, as of a monarch or a nation.

something that stands or is placed upright.

a long candlestick or candelabrum used in a church.

an upright support or supporting part.

Armor. a standing collar of mail.

Horticulture. a plant trained or grafted to have a single, erect, treelike stem.

Botany. a distinct petal, larger than the rest, of certain flowers; a vexillum.

adjective

serving as a basis of weight, measure, value, comparison, or judgment.

of recognized excellence or established authority: a standard reference on medieval history.

usual, common, or customary: Chairs are standard furniture in American households.

not electric or automatic; manual:standard transmission.

conforming in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, etc., to the usage of most educated native speakers, especially those having prestige, and widely considered acceptable or correct: Standard American English;standard pronunciation.Compare nonstandard (def. 2).

authorized or approved: The program was broadcast on the standard broadcast band.

OTHER WORDS FOR standard

1, 3 gauge, basis, pattern, guide.

See synonyms for standard on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of standard

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old French, probably from unattested Frankish standord (compare German Standort “standing-point”), conformed to -ard -ard

synonym study for standard

1, 3. Standard, criterion refer to the basis for making a judgment. A standard is an authoritative principle or rule that usually implies a model or pattern for guidance, by comparison with which the quantity, excellence, correctness, etc., of other things may be determined: She could serve as the standard of good breeding. A criterion is a rule or principle used to judge the value, suitability, probability, etc., of something, without necessarily implying any comparison: Wealth is no criterion of a person's worth.

OTHER WORDS FROM standard

pre·stand·ard, noun, adjectivesu·per·stand·ard, noun, adjectiveun·stand·ard, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use standard in a sentence

As a result, no single research group or company has funded a large, randomized controlled trial of plasma, the highest standard of clinical evidence.
Why we don’t know if convalescent plasma works to treat Covid-19|Katherine Ellen Foley|August 28, 2020|Quartz
Meanwhile government subsidies, intended to support OEMs during the pandemic and help automakers hit new emission standards, have reduced costs of local production.
Tesla loses ground in Europe despite a local surge in EV purchases post-lockdown|eamonbarrett|August 28, 2020|Fortune
The officers were placed on administrative leave, standard practice in a shooting by police.
Protests continue in Wisconsin after police shooting of Jacob Blake|kdunn6|August 25, 2020|Fortune
Apple faces a backlash from some developers who say its standard App Store fee of up to 30% and other policies are unfair and designed to benefit iPhone maker’s own services.
Apple judge weighs in on fight over Fortnite|Verne Kopytoff|August 24, 2020|Fortune

American says these features have been standard since the late 1990s.
American Airlines touts a new tool to combat COVID. But does it really make flying safer?|dzanemorris|August 24, 2020|Fortune
Her Miss America win transcended mere superficial beauty standards.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
States were encouraged and allowed to lower standards to make it appear they were improving.
The ‘No Child’ Rewrite Threatens Your Kids’ Future|Jonah Edelman|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There was virtually no government oversight of safety and operational standards.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Do we critique those women who would modify themselves just to reach those standards?
Renée Zellweger Got a New Face—and Everyone Had An Opinion About It|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Are the standards for female beauty in Hollywood ridiculous?
Renée Zellweger Got a New Face—and Everyone Had An Opinion About It|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their standards had nothing in common; in the one honour could conquer ambition, in the other ambition knew no rules of honour.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
In the stables and enclosures were pure-bred cattle and sheep, the nucleus of tribal flocks and herds of better standards.
Mystery Ranch|Arthur Chapman
The same thing is true concerning standards of capacity, and standards of weight.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
Secondly, an extraordinary phenomenon like an Attentat cannot be measured by the narrow standards of legality.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
He ought to have known that nothing is more offensive to free and proud nations than the sight of foreign uniforms and standards.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for standard

standard

/ (ˈstændəd) /

noun

an accepted or approved example of something against which others are judged or measured

(often plural) a principle of propriety, honesty, and integrityshe has no standards

a level of excellence or qualitya low standard of living

any distinctive flag, device, etc, as of a nation, sovereign, or special cause

any of a variety of naval or military flags
the colours of a cavalry regiment

a flag or emblem formerly used to show the central or rallying point of an army in battle

a large tapering flag ending in two points, originally borne by a sovereign or high-ranking noble

the commodity or commodities in which is stated the value of a basic monetary unitthe gold standard

an authorized model of a unit of measure or weight

a unit of board measure equal to 1980 board feet

(in coinage) the prescribed proportion by weight of precious metal and base metal that each coin must contain

an upright pole or beam, esp one used as a support

a piece of furniture consisting of an upright pole or beam on a base or support
(as modifier)a standard lamp

a plant, esp a fruit tree, that is trained so that it has an upright stem free of branches
(as modifier)a standard cherry

a song or piece of music that has remained popular for many years

the largest petal of a leguminous flower, such as a sweetpea

(in New Zealand and, formerly, in England and Wales) a class or level of attainment in an elementary school

adjective

of the usual, regularized, medium, or accepted kinda standard size

of recognized authority, competence, or excellencethe standard work on Greece

denoting or characterized by idiom, vocabulary, etc, that is regarded as correct and acceptable by educated native speakersCompare nonstandard, informal

British (formerly) (of eggs) of a size that is smaller than large and larger than medium

Word Origin for standard

C12: from Old French estandart gathering place, flag to mark such a place, probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German stantan to stand, Old High German ort place

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

standard

OTHER WORDS FOR standard

Origin of standard

synonym study for standard

OTHER WORDS FROM standard

Words related to standard

How to use standard in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for standard

Word Origin for standard