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

Etymology

Origin of guideline

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

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 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

Adults who met the guideline of 150 minutes of exercise per week had a modest 8 to 9% lower cardiovascular risk.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 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Advisers today consider this guideline outdated and oversimplified because it relies on static assumptions that don’t reflect modern retirement realities such as longer life expectancies, unexpected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

In addition to announcing that agency staff must now get Aronowitz’s sign-off before any major enforcement action, it set a new guideline for investigators.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

Food fads still come and go with alarming speed: A scientific study, a new government guideline, a lone crackpot with a medical degree can change our nation’s diet overnight.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

King Charles III waded into the AI debate on Thursday, gathering top tech executives in Scotland to urge them to hash out guidelines to keep the technology from spinning out of control.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Breast cancer surgery, she says, "has some of the tightest guidelines and protocols, and you should have the same treatment wherever you are, private or public, in any part of the UK."

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Harabedian has said that most of the contracts and guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — the government-sponsored organizations that hold or guarantee the majority of U.S. mortgages — do not bar loan deferrals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

There are a number of well-known spending guidelines.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

In a world of chaos, any guidelines helped.

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen

Related Words

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