guidance

American  

[gahyd-ns] / ˈgaɪd ns /

noun

• guidances
  plural

1. the act or function of guiding; leadership; direction.

   Synonyms:

   government, control, supervision, conduct, management

2. advice or counseling, especially that provided for students choosing a course of study or preparing for a vocation.

3. supervised care or assistance, especially therapeutic help in the treatment of minor emotional disturbances.

4. something that guides.

5. the process by which the flight of a missile or rocket may be altered in speed and direction in response to controls situated either wholly in the projectile or partly at a base.

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guidance British  

/ ˈɡaɪdəns /

noun

1. leadership, instruction, or direction

2. 1. counselling or advice on educational, vocational, or psychological matters

   2. ( as modifier )

      the marriage-guidance counsellor

3. something that guides

4. any process by which the flight path of a missile is controlled in flight See also guided missile

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonguidance
  noun
• preguidance
  noun
• self-guidance
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• guidances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of guidance

First recorded in 1765–75; guide + -ance

Explanation

Guidance can mean steering (like the navigation system in a satellite) or the act of providing direction (like a guidance counselor does). Back in the 1530s, guidance started out meaning "the process of directing conduct," similar to what we think of when we think of parents, mentors, or counselors. If you've ever asked a friend for advice on what to wear, you were seeking their guidance. But guidance also applies to physical direction. We might use a global positioning system (GPS) for guidance when we drive. Years ago, sailors relied on the stars for guidance. Sherpas provide guidance to climbers hiking Mt. Everest so they don't get lost.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

guidance guidances

He said the guidance for next quarter "points to revenue comfortably above $110bn."

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Analysts at Jefferies say the new guidance is low enough that it will now be difficult for Intuit to miss targets.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Kohl’s also narrowed its sales guidance, now expecting revenue to be flat to down 1.5%, compared with the flat to 2% decline it previously projected.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

“We received guidance not to proceed with the feature as opt out,” Volichenko said of Meta’s widely touted “take a break” tool.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

“Think about what you just did. You comforted a soul in her darkest moment. You did that with no training, no guidance, nothing but the kindness of your own heart. Is that useless, Gingersnipes? Kindness?”

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines tempered their guidances for the year to reflect volatile fuel prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

With no increase in hospitalizations in South Africa—and only about 1,200 cases per day—he advised the government against setting stricter guidances than the country already has.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 18, 2022

The Labor Department spokeswoman said, “OSHA’s current guidances, standards and regulations fully outline the rights and protections of workers from dangers such as the coronavirus.”

From New York Times ● Apr. 22, 2020

Within months, the FDA would also finalize guidances making clear the kind of fat-derived treatment offered by U.S.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 3, 2019

In seeking to understand and to give an exposition of this scheme of faith, we have, besides various collateral aids, three chief guidances.

From The Destiny of the Soul A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life by William Rounseville Alger

Related Words

• advice
• direction
• instruction
• intelligence
• leadership
• management
• navigation
• supervision
• teaching