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

That should be a fairly good guideline for what direction the next two years could possibly be.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

He sometimes uses his watch as a guideline when running, but no longer "obsesses over it", adding that he "goes by how I feel on the day".

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

How much credence a court gives to both the guideline range versus the commentary details matters a lot in a case like Beiard’s, as it can mean the difference of years worth of prison time.

From Slate ● Oct. 18, 2026

A Medicare decision, especially alongside a blessing from guideline groups like the American Cancer Society, is what tends to pry open the commercial market, says Dan Brennan of TD Cowen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

I realized then why he had used our rope sparingly; why he had made my guideline down to east beach from vines instead of rope.

From "The Cay" by Theodore Taylor

Airbnb's new guidelines, which apply to bookings made globally from 20 November, state that hosts can now set seven standard house rules and other "reasonable" requests.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026

For decades, nutrition guidelines in Canada and many other countries have recommended choosing low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, and other dairy products.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

Their purpose is to hash out guidelines for areas including energy and infrastructure, water and natural resources, community engagement, economic and community value, transparency and accountability, and implementation.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

The bill would also pause advanced AI development until guidelines are implemented while creating a Department of Artificial Intelligence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

Some federal judges, including conservative judges, have quit in protest of federal drug laws and sentencing guidelines.

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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