double standard

[duhb-uhl stan-derd] / ˈdʌb əl ˈstæn dərd /

NOUN

contrasting principles

Synonyms

WEAK

contradictory standard two sets of rules

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During a particularly chaotic debate last week, she scolded her opponents’ incessant interruptions and called out what she considered a double standard over her behavior.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron's government Wednesday criticized Clooney getting his passport despite speaking poor French, saying the move suggested a "double standard."

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

Consultant gynaecologist Dr Christine Ekechi, who works in the NHS, says there's often a double standard when it comes to parents talking to their children about puberty.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2025

This double standard is reflected in Georgia’s polling.

From Salon • Oct. 6, 2025

He complained of a double standard that made him a second-class person, and noted that his confidant Andy Kim was dating an intern.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden