Definition of "gold standard" []

• A monetary standard under which the basic unit of currency is equal in value to and exchangeable for a specified amount of gold. (noun)
• A model of excellence; a paragon: "Several generations of the laser have been widely available in Europe; the FDA approved the one now considered the gold standard” ( Daniel Goleman). (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The disease most easily distinguishable in mice is lupus—which means that the gold standard in the laboratory for ascertaining whether a pollutant might cause autoimmunity in humans is to see if it causes lupus in genetically-at-risk female mice."
• "Molecularly distilled fish oils are the gold standard in supplementation recommended by more and more mainstream, as well as alternative, MDs."
• "The main component in both of these serums is now the gold standard ingredient for reducing dark circles: Haloxyl, from the herb chrysin, which helps heal capillary blood leakage that creates most dark circles."