rule of the road

noun phrase

: a customary practice (such as driving always on a particular side of the road or yielding the right of way) developed in the interest of safety and often subsequently reinforced by law
especially : any of the rules making up a code governing ships in matters relating to mutual safety

Examples of rule of the road in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Senate voted 68-30 Tuesday to pass the GENIUS Act, a bill creating regulatory rules of the road for one form of cryptocurrency, known as stablecoins. Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 20 June 2025 Perhaps an adherence to Disney’s famously strict rules of the road for presenting its creative products, and/or maybe the smaller-scale economies in this production … whatever the cause, La Mirada’s trademark brio for animating up-beat, up-tempo musical productions is missing. Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 June 2025 Atkins’ approach, informed by his past tenure as a commissioner and his experience in the private sector, leans toward clear rules of the road. Tonya M. Evans, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Everybody understood what the rules of the road are. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rule of the road

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rule of the road was in 1798

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Cite this Entry

“Rule of the road.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20of%20the%20road. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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