If you accuse a person or institution of applying double standards in their treatment of different groups of people, you mean that they unfairly allow more freedom of behaviour to one group than to another.
[disapproval]
Mrs Starky accused the local police of operating double standards.
It's a double standard to say everybody else must play by the rules, but we do notneed to.
double standard in British English
noun
a set of principles that allows greater freedom to one person or group than to another
double standard in American English
a system, code, criterion, etc. applied unequally; specif., a code of behavior that is stricter for women than for men, esp. in matters of sex
Examples of 'double standard' in a sentence
double standard
There must be a double standard there.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If there is an exemption for those providing herbal medicines it would set a double standard that could be very detrimental.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We may indeed need double standards.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Double standard We want one of these coats ourselves and on us it will look classy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Another double standard is the criticism of women politicians who feature in women's magazines.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Another example of double standards.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
double standard
British English: double standard NOUN
If you accuse a person or institution of applying double standards in their treatment of different groups of people, you mean that they unfairly allow more freedom of behaviour to one group than to another.
She accused the local police of operating double standards.
American English: double standard
Brazilian Portuguese: política de dois pesos e duas medidas
Chinese: 双重标准
European Spanish: doble juego
French: deux poids deux mesures
German: Doppelmoral
Italian: due metri di giudizio diversi
Japanese: 二重基準
Korean: 이중 잣대
European Portuguese: política de dois pesos e duas medidas