guideline
Americannoun
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any guide or indication of a future course of action.
guidelines on the government's future policy.
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a lightly marked line used as a guide, as in composing a drawing, a typed page, or a line of lettering.
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a rope or cord that serves to guide one's steps, especially over rocky terrain, through underground passages, etc.
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a rope or wire used in guiding the movement of stage scenery or curtains being raised or lowered.
noun
Etymology
Origin of guideline
Explanation
A guideline is a rule-of-thumb or suggestion that shows or tells you how to behave. If you want to stay healthy, you might want to follow the government's dietary guidelines. Sample guideline: go easy on the salt. In the 18th century, guideline referred to an actual line that you drew on fabric before cutting. So for example, if you wanted to cut a piece of linen to make a dress, you'd draw a guideline on it first to make sure the incision would be straight. The line guided your cut; over time, the word became a metaphor for a guide to any sort of action.
Vocabulary lists containing guideline
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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.
Ad spending on all late-night television shows hit $209 million in 2025, down from $519.7 million in 2017, according to data from Guideline.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
Ad spending on late-night programs across all networks fell almost 50% between 2018 and 2024, dropping from $439 million to $220 million, according to advertising-data company Guideline.
From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026
Guideline, an ad-spending tracking firm, estimated that “The Bachelorette” was expected to bring in as much as $35 million in advertising revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026
Guideline recommendations were drafted and the strength of evidence for each recommendation was assessed to reach consensus among a group of content experts for each guideline statement.
From Science Daily • Sep. 18, 2023
Their Guideline missiles were paraded in Tirana on Army Day of 1964 and have been shown on occasion since.
From Area Handbook for Albania by Elpern, Sarah Jane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
