double standard

noun

1
: a set of principles that applies differently and usually more rigorously to one group of people or circumstances than to another
especially : a code of morals that applies more severe standards of sexual behavior to women than to men
2

Examples of double standard in a Sentence

She argued that society applies a double standard in dealing with women who commit adultery.
Recent Examples on the Web Many called that an example of a racist double standard. Juliana Kim, NPR, 31 Mar. 2024 What did this say about the royals and their control of social media vis-a-vis tabloid news, one New York Times columnist asked, while another saw a double standard between the treatment of Middleton and her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 Read more One Day Star Ambika Mod Is Processing the Emma Morley Criticism in Therapy The 28-year-old Netflix star digs into double standards in the romance genre, criticism of her One Day character, and whether or not Emma and Dexter would make it in today's world. Lian Brooks, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2024 Even some of Cunningham’s harshest critics see a double standard between her trajectory and that of her boss, Morris, who quickly got a new job, in H.R., in a nearby district. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024 The huge response to this question has revealed quite a double standard: The house belongs to the father and the daughter’s sexuality belongs to the mother. Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024 People on social media criticized her, but her defenders wondered whether race created a double standard: Clark is white and Reese is Black. Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024 The perception of double standards is stronger than ever. Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024 Pride’s success ought to have led to more Black voices in country music, but folks like Linda Martell still had to endure countless indignities, obstacles, and double standards. Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double standard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of double standard was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near double standard

Cite this Entry

“Double standard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20standard. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

double standard

noun
: a set of standards that applies differently and usually more harshly to one group of people or circumstances than to another

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