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

Several users warned of a potentially dangerous unveiling of private information performed without clear guardrails, consent or accountability.

Read more on Salon

When AI systems are manipulated into performing malicious actions, critical details must be shared: attack vectors, guardrail failures, and forensic signatures that might help others detect similar intrusions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It meant less shopping, less dining out and more planning than she was used to, but having these guardrails “really gives me joy,” she said.

Read more on MarketWatch

It meant less shopping, less dining out and more planning than she was used to, but having these guardrails “really gives me joy,” she said.

Read more on MarketWatch

But in longer conversations that the researchers designed to mirror real-world teen usage, the guardrails weakened over time.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal