guideline

American  

[gahyd-lahyn] / ˈgaɪdˌlaɪn /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of guideline

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

Example Sentences

Dietary guidelines from the cardiovascular research nonprofit largely mirrored those published by the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

“All federal employees are subject to government ethics guidelines that prohibit the use of nonpublic information for financial benefit,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said.

From Salon

A few months later, the organisation issued a new set of guidelines, reiterating that it was "not in a position to issue regulations that define eligibility criteria for every sport".

From BBC

The association’s latest recommendations are mostly unchanged from the guidelines that it released in 2021 and that the federal government had issued before this year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Deal activity in the city remains vibrant despite a slower pace of new listing approvals amid new guidelines from the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong, says the Asia head of corporate transactions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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