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

In November, we had the first version of the current guideline, against writing new articles with LLMs, which sadly didn’t apply to existing articles, where most of the abuse was.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

A key shift in the new guideline is the push for screening at younger ages and a broader look at personal risk.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

And for the guideline bodies: The precision-medicine framework applied to oncology and cardiology has not yet reached metabolic pharmacology.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

Tapping it last is not such much a myth as it is a guideline.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 15, 2026

Food fads still come and go with alarming speed: A scientific study, a new government guideline, a lone crackpot with a medical degree can change our nation’s diet overnight.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Related Words

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