1. A monetary standard under which the basic unit of currency is defined by a stated quantity of gold
   "The United States abandoned the gold standard in 1971"
    
2. A paragon of excellence
   "academic education is the gold standard against which other educational activity is pejoratively judged"

Derived forms: gold standards

Type of: beau idéal, idol, monetary standard, paragon, perfection, standard

Encyclopedia: Gold standard