Meaning & use
standard-bearer
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Meanings
nouncountableformal
A person who carries a flag or banner, especially in a ceremony or battle.
Grammar: Countable noun: a standard-bearer, the standard-bearer. Often used with 'the' in historical contexts.
Patterns
- act as standard-bearer
- the standard-bearer for something
The standard-bearer led the parade, holding the flag high.
In ancient Rome, the standard-bearer was a respected soldier.
She was chosen as the standard-bearer for the team at the opening ceremony.
nouncountablefigurative
A prominent leader or representative of a group, cause, or movement.
Grammar: Countable noun: often followed by 'of' or 'for' to show the cause or group.
Patterns
- standard-bearer of something
- standard-bearer for something
She became the standard-bearer of the environmental movement.
He is seen as the standard-bearer for young entrepreneurs.
The newspaper called him the standard-bearer of traditional values.
Word forms
| plural | standard-bearers |
|---|
Common combinations
- standard-bearer for reform
- The senator was a standard-bearer for reform in education.
- standard-bearer of the party
- He became the standard-bearer of the party after the election.
- carry the standard-bearer
- The young soldier was proud to carry the standard-bearer in the parade.
- the standard-bearer in a field
- This company is the standard-bearer in renewable energy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- flag-bearer
- Similar but more literal; standard-bearer is often used figuratively for a leader.
- figurehead
- A figurehead has a title but little real power, while a standard-bearer is an active leader or symbol.
- torchbearer
- A torchbearer carries a torch, often symbolically; standard-bearer carries a flag and can also mean a leader.
Word family
- standard noun
- A flag or banner, especially in military contexts.
Commonly confused: standard-bearer or standard bearer?
standard-bearer vs standard bearer
The hyphenated form 'standard-bearer' is standard; without a hyphen it can be confused with a bearer of standards (e.g., a person who carries standards of measurement).
Practice
In the sentence 'She is the standard-bearer for women in science,' what does 'standard-bearer' mean?
Choose one answer.
Here, 'standard-bearer' is used figuratively to mean a leader or representative, so option 1 is correct. Option 0 is the literal meaning but does not fit the context of women in science. Option 2 confuses 'standard' with measurement standards. Option 3 is unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “standard-bearer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.