guideline

American  

[gahyd-lahyn] / ˈgaɪdˌlaɪn /

noun

• guidelines
  plural

1. any guide or indication of a future course of action.

   guidelines on the government's future policy.

2. a lightly marked line used as a guide, as in composing a drawing, a typed page, or a line of lettering.

3. a rope or cord that serves to guide one's steps, especially over rocky terrain, through underground passages, etc.

4. a rope or wire used in guiding the movement of stage scenery or curtains being raised or lowered.

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guideline British  

/ ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a principle put forward to set standards or determine a course of action

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• guidelines
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of guideline

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; guide + line ¹

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

guideline guidelines

The WHO's guideline sets 100 micrograms of ozone per cubic metre as the maximum recommended level of exposure, averaged over eight hours.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

Despite the widespread detection of mycotoxins, the levels measured in the UK products remained below recommended EU guideline levels.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

The diagnostic process for HSD is complicated by the fact the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence does not have a dedicated, standalone clinical guideline for diagnosis.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Advisers today consider this guideline outdated and oversimplified because it relies on static assumptions that don’t reflect modern retirement realities such as longer life expectancies, unexpected healthcare expenses and market downturns.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

It’s an aspect of the art of writing which depends on intuition, experience, and guesswork, but there is also an overarching guideline.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

China has since published a set of national guidelines for the provision of meals on campuses.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Also under the deal, FAA managers and union representatives will hammer out new shift guidelines to maximize staffing during high traffic volumes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

"Current guidelines don't reflect the importance of frequency for sleep health," Baird said.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

Scrolling through the various tips and guidelines on the app that morning, I see sleep listed as one of the major factors in keeping cortisol on track.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

In fact, under the federal sentencing guidelines, providing “substantial assistance” is often the only way defendants can hope to obtain a sentence below the mandatory minimum.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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Related Words

• code
• ground rule
• guidance
• instruction
• protocol
• rule

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