standard

[ stan-derd ]

/ ˈstæn dərd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR standard 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.
(initial capital letter) 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.

manual; not electric or automatic: 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.

Nearby words

Origin of standard

1125–75; Middle English < Old French, probably < Frankish *standord (compare German Standort standing-point), conformed to -ard -ard

SYNONYMS FOR standard

1, 3. gauge, basis, pattern, guide. 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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR standard ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formspre·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for standards

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
Co-founder Missy Suicide opens up about standards of beauty, controversy, and body art.
Masters of Alt Sex: SuicideGirls Hits Puberty and Wants to Invade Your TV Set|Marlow Stern|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Did they live their lives in a matter befitting of our standards?
The Post-Brown and Garner Question: Who ‘Deserves’ to Die?|Goldie Taylor|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, they view us as children who can never adhere to the standards of civility and decency to which they hold other groups.
Dear White People: Well-Meaning Paternalism Is Still Racist|Chloé Valdary|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Sadly, some set their standards for Sasha and Malia higher than others.
Let’s Not Forget: We Were All Teenagers Once|Russell Saunders|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The stout youth's standards were his own, and rigid, as is often the case with people of his type.
The Rules of the Game|Stewart Edward White
Under such circumstances we need not wonder that the standards of the laity were low.
The Age of Erasmus|P. S. Allen
He possesses every gift which women and men both admire, but he hasn't our standards.
The Great Prince Shan|E. Phillips Oppenheim
I'll telephone Washington and have some men with apparatus sent right down from the Bureau of Standards.
The Great Drought|Sterner St. Paul Meek
It makes very little sense to speak of standards in connection with problems of living that come about from demoralization.
When You Don't Know Where to Turn|Steven J. Bartlett

British Dictionary definitions for standards

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

Word Origin and History for standards

standard

mid-12c., "flag or other conspicuous object to serve as a rallying point for a military force," from Old French estandart, probably from Frankish *standhard, literally "stand fast or firm," a compound of words similar to Gothic standan "to stand" (see stand) and hardus "hard" (see hard). So called because the flag was fixed to a pole or spear and stuck in the ground to stand upright.

The other theory connects the Old French word to estendre "to stretch out," from Latin extendere (see extend). Meaning "unit of measure" is early 14c., from Anglo-French, where it was used 13c., and is perhaps metaphoric, the royal standard coming to stand for royal authority in matters like setting weights and measures. Hence the meaning "authoritative or recognized exemplar of quality or correctness" (late 15c.).

Meaning "rule, principal or means of judgment" is from 1560s. That of "definite level of attainment" is attested from 1711 (e.g. standard of living, 1903). Some senses (e.g. "upright pole," mid-15c.) seem to be influenced by stand (v.). Standard-bearer in the figurative sense is from 1560s.

Medicine definitions for standards

standard

[ stăn′dərd ]

n.

An acknowledged measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; a criterion.

An object that under specified conditions defines, represents, or records the magnitude of a unit.

adj.

Serving as or conforming to a standard of measurement or value.

Widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence.

standard

noun

adjective

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Origin of standard

Examples from the Web for standards

standard

noun

adjective

Word Origin for standard

standard

standard

n.

adj.