A standard is a level of quality or achievement, especially a level that is thought to be acceptable.
The standard of professional cricket has never been lower.
There will be new national standards for hospital cleanliness.
Synonyms: level, grade, calibre, quality More Synonyms of standard
2. countable noun
A standard is something that you use in order to judge the quality of something else.
...systems that were by later standards absurdly primitive.
Synonyms: criterion, measure, guideline, example More Synonyms of standard
3. plural noun
Standards are moral principles which affect people's attitudes and behaviour.
My father has always had high moral standards.
Synonyms: principles, ideals, morals, rule More Synonyms of standard
4. See also double standard
5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You use standard to describe things which are usual and normal.
It was standard practice for untrained clerks to advise in serious cases such asmurder.
No other executive car can offer you the same level of standard equipment at thisprice.
Synonyms: usual, normal, customary, set More Synonyms of standard
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A standard work or text on a particular subject is one that is widely read and often recommended.
More Synonyms of standard
standard in British English
(ˈstændəd)
noun
1.
an accepted or approved example of something against which others are judged or measured
2. (often plural)
a principle of propriety, honesty, and integrity
she has no standards
3.
a level of excellence or quality
a low standard of living
4.
any distinctive flag, device, etc, as of a nation, sovereign, or special cause
5.
a.
any of a variety of naval or military flags
b.
the colours of a cavalry regiment
6.
a flag or emblem formerly used to show the central or rallying point of an army in battle
7.
a large tapering flag ending in two points, originally borne by a sovereign or high-ranking noble
8.
the commodity or commodities in which is stated the value of a basic monetary unit
the gold standard
9.
an authorized model of a unit of measure or weight
10.
a unit of board measure equal to 1980 board feet
11.
(in coinage) the prescribed proportion by weight of precious metal and base metal that each coin must contain
12.
an upright pole or beam, esp one used as a support
13.
a.
a piece of furniture consisting of an upright pole or beam on a base or support
b.
(as modifier)
a standard lamp
14.
a.
a plant, esp a fruit tree, that is trained so that it has an upright stem free ofbranches
b.
(as modifier)
a standard cherry
15.
a song or piece of music that has remained popular for many years
16.
the largest petal of a leguminous flower, such as a sweetpea
17.
(in New Zealand and, formerly, in England and Wales) a class or level of attainment in an elementary school
adjective
18.
of the usual, regularized, medium, or accepted kind
a standard size
19.
of recognized authority, competence, or excellence
the standard work on Greece
20.
denoting or characterized by idiom, vocabulary, etc, that is regarded as correct and acceptable by educated native speakers
Compare nonstandard, informal
21. British
(formerly) (of eggs) of a size that is smaller than large and larger than medium
Word origin
C12: from Old French estandart gathering place, flag to mark such a place, probably of Germanic origin; compareOld High German stantan to stand, Old High German ort place
standard in American English
(ˈstændərd)
noun
1.
any figure or object, esp. a flag or banner, used as an emblem or symbol of a leader, people, military unit, etc.
; specif.,
a. Heraldry
a long, tapering flag used as an ensign, as by a king
b. Military
the colors of a cavalry unit
2.
something established for use as a rule or basis of comparison in measuring or judging capacity, quantity, content, extent, value, quality, etc.
standard of weight and measure
3.
a.
the proportion of pure gold or silver and base metal prescribed for use in coinage
b.
the basis for the measure of value in a given monetary system
see also gold standard, silver standard
4.
the type, model, or example commonly or generally accepted or adhered to; criterion set for usages or practices
moral standards
5.
a level of excellence, attainment, etc. regarded as a measure of adequacy
6.
any upright object used as a support, often a part of the thing it supports; base;stand
7.
a former grade or class designation in a British elementary school
8.
a piece of popular music that continues to be included in the repertoire of many bands, singers, etc. through the years
9. Botany
a.
the large, upper petal of a butterfly-shaped flower; vexillum
b.
any of the three erect petals in the flower of an iris
10. Horticulture
a.
a tree or shrub with a tall, erect stem, that stands alone without support
b.
a plant grafted on a single erect stem to grow in tree form
adjective
11.
used as, or meeting the requirements of, a standard, rule, model, etc.
12.
generally accepted as reliable or authoritative
standard reference books
13.
conforming to what is usual; ordinary; not special or extra
standard procedure
14. Linguistics
a.
of or in accord with the level of usage of most educated speakers of a language andestablished as the prestigious form of that language
b. [S-]
designating the prestigious dialect of a given language
Standard American English
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈmodel
SYNONYMY NOTE: standard applies to some measure, principle, model, etc. with which things of the same classare compared in order to determine their quantity, value, quality, etc. [standard of purity for drugs]; criterion applies to a test or rule for measuring the excellence, fitness, or correctness ofsomething [mere memory is no accurate criterion of intelligence]; gauge literally applies to a standard of measurement [a wire gauge], but figuratively it is equivalent to criterion [sales are an accurate gauge of a book's popularity]; yardstick refers to a test or criterion for measuring genuineness or value [time is the only true yardstick of a book's merit]
Word origin
ME < OFr estendard < Frank *standord, place of formation < Gmc *standan, to stand + *ort, a place, orig., a point, akin to OE ord (see odd): hence, orig., a standing place
More idioms containing
standard
the standard bearer of something
COBUILD Collocations
standard
certain standard
decent standard
ethical standard
minimum standard
poor standard
strict standard
tough standard
Examples of 'standard' in a sentence
standard
What may have been the gold standard a few years ago no longer holds true.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
With standard artificial limbs people often overload a good leg while standing still.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We are low in price but high in standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They hold high moral standards and raise strong families.
Christianity Today (2000)
We are putting in place a series of measures to raise standards.
The Sun (2010)
These opportunities pose new demands for care and attention to maintain standards.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
Price is per person for two people sharing a standard room.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Other worries were language barriers and lower standards of quality in some countries.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are also available in four standard sizes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This was caused by clashes between partners with varying standards of cleanliness.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Patients and their families need more information about the standard of hospitals and the records of doctors.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Skoda packs in the standard equipment on all models and specifications are generous.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Their standard digital boards have been altered to show the new prices.
The Sun (2010)
Charities seem so convinced of their own virtue they lose sight of basic standards.
The Sun (2015)
Standards of competence are improving thanks to the newish obligations to obtain qualifications.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He took the standard of cricket forward around the world.
The Sun (2007)
You cannot measure him by normal standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Regulation clearly has an important role in ensuring competition and setting minimum acceptable standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But the law as it stands should reflect current practice and ethical standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We regard this as a very serious breach of the standards of behaviour expected of approved persons.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This one meets all federal standards of car production.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You can still express your concerns about his standard of work.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Surely we should be much more concerned with musical excellence than sartorial standards?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Texts cost 1.50 plus your standard network charge.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is no legal definition of halal, and no single accepted standard.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Quotations
Standards are always out of date. That's what makes them standardsAlan BennettForty Years On
In other languages
standard
British English: standard /ˈstændəd/ ADJECTIVE
Standard means usual and normal.
There are two standard treatments for this disease.
American English: standard
Arabic: قِيَاسِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: padrão
Chinese: 标准的
Croatian: standardan
Czech: normální
Danish: standard-
Dutch: standaard-
European Spanish: normal
Finnish: vakio-
French: standard normal
German: üblich
Greek: καθιερωμένος
Italian: standard
Japanese: 標準の
Korean: 표준의
Norwegian: standardisert
Polish: standardowy
European Portuguese: padrão
Romanian: standard
Russian: стандартный
Latin American Spanish: normal
Swedish: standardmässig
Thai: ซึ่งเป็นมาตรฐาน
Turkish: standart
Ukrainian: стандартний
Vietnamese: chuẩn
British English: standard /ˈstændəd/ NOUN
A standard is a level of quality or achievement, especially a level that is thought to be acceptable.
Her team are setting new standards for women's football.
American English: standard
Arabic: مِقْياس
Brazilian Portuguese: padrão
Chinese: 标准
Croatian: standard
Czech: úroveň
Danish: standard
Dutch: norm
European Spanish: nivel
Finnish: taso laatu
French: norme
German: Standard
Greek: πρότυπο
Italian: standard
Japanese: 標準
Korean: 표준
Norwegian: standard
Polish: standard
European Portuguese: padrão
Romanian: standard
Russian: стандарт
Latin American Spanish: nivel grado de ciertos aspectos sociales
Swedish: standard
Thai: มาตรฐาน
Turkish: standart
Ukrainian: стандарт
Vietnamese: tiêu chuẩn
All related terms of 'standard'
bog-standard
If you describe something as bog-standard you mean that is an ordinary example of its kind, with no exciting or interesting features .
CAT standard
(in Britain) a standard accepted voluntarily by building societies relating to charges, access , etc, against which Individual Savings Accounts can be judged
gold standard
a monetary system in which the unit of currency is defined with reference to gold
lamp standard
a tall metal or concrete post supporting a street lamp
non-standard
Non-standard things are different from the usual version or type of that thing.
open-standard
(of computer programs , codes , etc) freely available to all users
poor standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable .
standard-bred
a US and Canadian breed of trotting and pacing horse, used esp for harness-racing
standard cell
a voltaic cell producing a constant and accurately known electromotive force that can be used to calibrate voltage-measuring instruments
standard cost
the predetermined budgeted cost of a regular manufacturing process against which actual costs are compared
standard lamp
A standard lamp is a tall electric light which stands on the floor in a living room .
standard rose
a rose which has a long stem
standard time
Standard time is the official local time of a region or country.
sub-standard
A sub-standard service or product is unacceptable because it is below a required standard.
decent standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable .
double standard
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.
living standard
Living standards or living standard is used to refer to the level of comfort in which people live , which usually depends on how much money they have.
Royal Standard
a flag bearing the arms of the British sovereign , flown only when she (or he) is present
silver standard
a monetary system in which the legal unit of currency is defined with reference to silver of a specified fineness and weight and sometimes (esp formerly) freely redeemable for it
single standard
a moral code with the same standard of behavior for men and women, esp. in matters of sex
standard-bearer
If you describe someone as the standard bearer of a group, you mean that they act as the leader or public representative of a group of people who have the same aims or interests .
standard candle
a unit of luminous intensity ; the candela : not in scientific usage because of possible confusion with a former unit (international candle )
standard class
the cheaper class of seats on trains , below first class
standard clause
a clause which is inserted as standard into certain types of contracts or agreements
standard error
the estimated standard deviation of a parameter , the value of which is not known exactly
standard gauge
a railway track with a distance of 4 ft 8 1 ⁄ 2 in. (1.435 m ) between the lines; used on most railways
Standard Grade
(formerly, in Scotland) a type of examination designed to test skills and the application of knowledge , replaced O grade
standard issue
something, such as a rifle , included as standard with military equipment
standard model
a theory of fundamental interactions in which the electromagnetic , weak , and strong interactions are described in terms of the exchange of virtual particles
standard pitch
→ concert pitch
standard score
the test score of a participant expressed as the deviation of the score from the mean score of the sample in units of standard deviation
strict standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable .
tough standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable .
certain standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable .
ethical standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable.
European standard
a specification to be used as a consistent rule or guideline in the manufacture or selling of a certain product or service traded within Europe
industry standard
an established standard , norm , or requirement in a particular area of business
minimum standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable .
Received Standard
the form of British English spoken by the upper socioeconomic classes , esp. by graduates of the public schools and of Oxford and Cambridge
standard amenities
the sanitary facilities recommended for all dwellings by the housing law: a fixed bath or shower , wash-hand basin , and sink, all supplied with hot and cold water, and a flush toilet
standard annuity
A standard annuity is a retirement investment insurance contract that pays a regular income in return for a lump sum payment.
standard deviation
a measure of dispersion obtained by extracting the square root of the mean of the squared deviations of the observed values from their mean in a frequency distribution
Standard English
English which is characterized by idiom , vocabulary , etc, that is regarded as correct and acceptable by educated native speakers
standard function
a subprogram provided by a translator that carries out a task , for example the computation of a mathematical function, such as sine , square root, etc
standard procedure
A procedure is a way of doing something, especially the usual or correct way.
standard atmosphere
an arbitrarily determined vertical distribution of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and density , assumed to have physical constants and conforming to parametric equations , used for calculations in ballistics , the design of pressure altimeters, etc
standard of living
Your standard of living is the level of comfort and wealth which you have.
standard repertoire
A performer's repertoire is all the plays or pieces of music that he or she has learned and can perform.
Alaska Standard Time
a standard time used in the zone which includes all of Alas. except the W Aleutian Islands, corresponding to the mean solar time of the 135th meridian west of Greenwich , England: it is nine hours behind Greenwich time
British Standard Time
the standard time used in Britain all the year round from 1968 to 1971, set one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and equalling Central European Time