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

Whoopi Goldberg and her cohosts on "The View" called out the apparent immigration double standard in celebrity grifter Anna Delvey’s casting on “Dancing with the Stars,” despite her pending legal case.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2024

Plus, they were all too aware of the double standard being laid down between the loggers and the tourists.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone