golden rule
Americannoun
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golden rules
plural
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a rule of ethical conduct, usually phrased “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” paraphrased from the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament.
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any philosophy, guiding principle, or ideal of behavior, as in a discipline, pursuit, or business.
The protesters agreed that their golden rule would be “no violence.”
noun
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any of a number of rules of fair conduct, such as Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them (Matthew 7:12) or thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Leviticus 19:28)
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any important principle
a golden rule of sailing is to wear a life jacket
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the principle advocated by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown (in office 1997–2007) that a government should only borrow to invest
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another name for rule of three
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of golden rule
First recorded in 1550–60
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.
On your way out, be sure to leave books on the bright orange carts featuring signs of Yoda imploring guests to follow the golden rule: “Reshelve, do not. Leave books here, you must!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
“Hitching a paycheck, benefits and future nest egg to the exact same company violates the golden rule of finance: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
By posing for the magazine spread, the bankers had broken the golden rule of finance fashion: Never dress above your station—and certainly never better than the boss.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
Historically, the game has followed a golden rule.
From Slate ● Nov. 18, 2025
"Do good, be good" is, as has been well said, the golden rule of life; "do good, be good" must be the law impressed on our children's hearts.
From My Path to Atheism by Annie Wood Besant
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.
