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guidepost

American  
[gahyd-pohst] / ˈgaɪdˌpoʊst /

noun

  1. a post, usually mounted on the roadside or at the intersection of two or more roads, bearing a sign for the guidance of travelers.

  2. anything serving as a guide; guideline.

guidepost British  
/ ˈɡaɪdˌpəʊst /

noun

  1. a sign on a post by a road indicating directions

  2. a principle or guideline

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of guidepost

First recorded in 1755–65; guide + post 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One guidepost is the all-in cost of mining the stuff, but we are too far removed from that for it to be much help.

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 2025

Mr. Johnson, 51, has been a low-profile member during his six years in Congress, often known for quoting scripture and serving as a guidepost on constitutional issues.

From Washington Times • Oct. 25, 2023

“We don’t have that in later life. There really isn’t a guidepost to say, ‘At this age, something’s going to happen.’

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2023

Still, Katie Rodihan of the Seattle-based affiliate said the nonprofit’s guidepost is Washington, not Idaho, law.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 1, 2023

The guidepost of her ancestors, the North Star, would soon be visible and would point her way when the birds had all gone South.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.