stan·dard
ˈstan-dərd 
1
: a conspicuous object (such as a banner) formerly carried at the top of a pole and used to mark a rallying point especially in battle or to serve as an emblem
2
a
: a long narrow tapering flag that is personal to an individual or corporation and bears heraldic devices
b
: the personal flag of the head of a state or of a member of a royal family
c
: an organization flag carried by a mounted or motorized military unit
d
3
: something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example : criterion
quite slow by today's standards
4
: something set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality
5
a
: the fineness and legally fixed weight of the metal used in coins
b
: the basis of value in a monetary system
the gold standard
6
: a structure built for or serving as a base or support
7
a
: a shrub or herb grown with an erect main stem so that it forms or resembles a tree
b
: a fruit tree grafted on a stock that does not induce dwarfing
8
or standard petal
a
: the upper, large, often lobed petal of a papilionaceous flower (as of a pea or bean plant) : banner sense 6, vexillum sense 3 compare keel entry 2 sense 2b, wing entry 1 sense 2e(2)
b
: one of the three inner usually erect and incurved petals of an iris compare fall entry 2 sense 3f
9
: a musical composition (such as a song) that has become a part of the standard repertoire
10
: a vehicle with a manual transmission : manual
Her new car is a standard.
standardless
adjective
1
a
: constituting or conforming to a standard especially as established by law or custom
standard weight
b
: sound and usable but not of top quality
standard beef
2
a
: regularly and widely used, available, or supplied
standard automobile equipment
b
: well-established and very familiar
the standard opera
3
: having recognized and permanent value
a standard reference work
4
: substantially uniform and well established by usage in the speech and writing of the educated and widely recognized as acceptable
standard pronunciation is subject to regional variations
standardly
adverb
Synonyms
Noun
Adjective
Examples of standard in a Sentence
Noun
By modern standards, the house is just too small.
This book is the standard by which all others must be judged.
Adjective
a window of standard width
The movie was a pretty standard romantic comedy.
The word is considered standard.
Recent Examples on the Web
Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
The findings would help hold countries with less stringent standards accountable for their emissions output.
—Evan Clark, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Johnson said there isn’t a standard timeframe set to help individuals as their needs differ.
—Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for standard 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Companies providing this technology for use outside health-care settings aren’t bound by those same privacy regulations or ethical standards.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
The findings would help hold countries with less stringent standards accountable for their emissions output.
—Evan Clark, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Storms have become so frequent that some insurers just assume a roof with standard shingles has sustained damage.
—Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Johnson said there isn’t a standard timeframe set to help individuals as their needs differ.
—Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for standard
Articles Related to standard
Dictionary Entries Near standard
Cite this Entry
“Standard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standard. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
standard
1 of 2 noun
stan·dard
ˈstan-dərd
1
a
: a figure used as an emblem by an organized body of people
the eagle was the Roman legion's standard
b
: the personal flag of the ruler of a state
2
a
: something set up by authority or by general consent as a rule for measuring or as a model
a standard of weight
standards of good manners
b
: the basis of value in a monetary system
the gold standard
3
: a structure that serves as a support
a lamp standard
standard
2 of 2 adjective1
: used as or meeting a standard established by law or custom
standard weight
2
: regularly and widely used
standard practice in the trade
3
: having recognized and permanent value
standard reference works
4
: well established by usage in the speech or writing of the educated and widely recognized as acceptable
standard spelling
Medical Definition
standard
1 of 2 noun
stan·dard
ˈstan-dərd
: something set up or established by an authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality
standard
2 of 2 adjective
: constituting or conforming to a standard especially as established by law or custom
standard weight
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