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

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

The WHO's guideline sets 100 micrograms of ozone per cubic metre as the maximum recommended level of exposure, averaged over eight hours.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

And Justin, taking the thread with him as a guideline, went back to search for the other six.

From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien

These are just suggestions, however; some people spend more while others spend less, and these guidelines are bound to change.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

Home insurers and government fire agencies operate independently, but their Zone 0 guidelines align closely because both draw from the same scientific research, said Janet Ruiz of the Insurance Information Institute.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Researchers compared reported food consumption with the recommendations for each diet and assigned scores reflecting how well individuals followed those guidelines.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

Trying to stay within Uefa's guidelines was among the reasons why the club sold Munoz to Nottingham Forest for £22m.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Despite the guidelines I put on myself, I’ve still found my group, my table.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

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Related Words

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

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