standard
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a level of quality or achievement that is considered acceptable or desirable.
n.a required or agreed level of quality or attainment used as a benchmark for evaluation.
Simple“The hotel's service did not meet the high standards we expected for the price.”
In context“The regulatory body is responsible for ensuring that all medical facilities maintain a rigorous standard of patient care and hygiene.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an official rule or object used to measure how long, heavy, or valuable something is.
n.an object or rule that is used as a basis for a system of weights, measures, or currency.
Simple“The meter is the international standard for measuring length in science.”
In context“Historically, the gold standard allowed citizens to exchange paper currency for a specific amount of precious metal.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a large flag or a tall pole used to carry a flag during ceremonies.
n.a flag, banner, or ensign, especially one used in a formal or military context to represent a leader or nation.
Simple“The royal standard was raised above the palace to show the Queen was home.”
In context“The cavalry advanced with their standards held high, the silk banners fluttering visibly even through the thick smoke of the battlefield.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
adj.usual or ordinary; not having any special or extra features.
adj.conforming to a fixed or general pattern; provided as a regular feature rather than an optional extra.
Simple“Air conditioning is a standard feature in most new cars these days.”
In context“The standard procedure for processing applications requires a minimum of ten working days, regardless of the applicant's urgency.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.the form of a language that most people consider 'correct' and is used in schools and news.
adj.denoting the variety of a language used by the educated and in formal contexts, often serving as a prestige norm.
Simple“Students are expected to write their essays in standard English.”
In context“While the local dialect is used in casual conversation, standard Italian is the primary medium for national broadcasting and legal documentation.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
interj.a way to say 'of course' or 'I agree' when something is exactly what you expected.
interj.used as an exclamation to express agreement or to confirm that a situation is typical or expected.
Simple“Are you coming to the party tonight? Standard.”
In context“When asked if he was going to be late again, he just shrugged and said, 'Standard,' acknowledging his own reputation for tardiness.”
Usage standard of living · accepted standard · adopt standard
From Middle English standard, from Old French estandart (“gathering place, battle flag”), from Frankish standahard (literally “stand firm, stand hard”), equivalent to stand + -ard. An alternative etymology derives the second element from Frankish oʀd (“point, spot, place”) (compare Old French ordé (“pointed”), Old English ord (“point, source, vanguard”), German Standort (“location, place, site, position, base”, literally “standing-point”)). Merged with Middle English standar, stander, standere (“flag, banner”, literally “stander”), equivalent to stand + -er. More at stand, hard, ord. As a hill-naming term possibly a calque from Cumbric; equivalent to Welsh lluman (“standard”), arising with confusion with the hill-naming element llumon (“chimney”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.