guideline

[ gahyd-lahyn ]

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.

guideline

/ ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a principle put forward to set standards or determine a course of action

Word History and Origins

Origin of guideline¹

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

Example Sentences

Wilma Wooten, San Diego’s public health officer, confirmed this, and said current guidelines do not allow camp-style child care locations to operate during normal school hours.

From Voice of San Diego

We need to build the public trust, and to do that you have to do things consistently, carefully follow simple guidelines.

From Nautilus

Loftus said the difficulties acquiring devices and connectivity services are exacerbated by changing local and state guidelines.

From Voice of San Diego

Another important guideline that many publishing sites will give you is the word count of the articles.

From Search Engine Watch

Despite the pandemic and the widespread awareness of how the virus spreads, Yadav says that many of her customers simply refuse to follow the guidelines.

From Quartz

Even the doctors on the 2013 cholesterol guideline committee hired other people to read the literature for them.

From The Daily Beast

But for the over-worked, guideline-driven doc-in-a-box, low-carb diets still have a daunting public relations battle to overcome.

From The Daily Beast

But I do know I would not read a guideline or listen to the screeching admonishments from across the political spectrum.

From The Daily Beast

After every quadrennial vice-presidential audition, another cautionary guideline emerges.

From The Daily Beast

He complained to a judge that he was paying temporary spousal support that “far exceeds guideline levels.”

From The Daily Beast

Attaching his suit to the guideline nearby, part of the rim's "hairnet," he crept out over the inside edge of the rim.

From Project Gutenberg

Even with the help of the guideline it was often difficult enough to find our way.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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