guardrail

[gahrd-reyl]

noun

1. Also guardrailing. a protective railing, rail, railing, as along a road or stairway.

2. Railroads.,  a rail laid parallel to a track to prevent derailment or to keep derailed rolling stock from leaving the roadbed.

guardrail

/ ˈɡɑːdˌreɪl /

noun

1. a railing at the side of a staircase, road, etc, as a safety barrier

2. Also called (Brit): checkrail. railways a short metal rail fitted to the inside of the main rail to provide additional support in keeping a train's wheels on the track

Word History and Origins

Origin of guardrail¹

First recorded in 1825–35; guard + rail ¹

Example Sentences

Crews will repave sections of two lanes in each direction, replace signage and upgrade guardrails and curb ramps.

From Los Angeles Times

As tech companies charge ahead, child safety and advocacy groups have raised concerns there aren’t enough guardrails in place to protect the mental health of young people as they spill their darkest thoughts to chatbots.

From Los Angeles Times

The firm told tech news publication TechCrunch on Friday it would add more guardrails to its systems "as an extra precaution" and temporarily limit chatbots teens could interact with.

From BBC

New guardrails, retaining walls, erosion control and drainage systems were put in place to address the destruction.

From Los Angeles Times

While tech companies are competing to dominate the AI race, they’re also facing more concerns from parents, lawmakers and child advocacy groups worried that the technology lacks sufficient guardrails.

From Los Angeles Times