: a line by which one is guided: such as
a
: a cord or rope to aid a passer over a difficult point or to permit retracing a course
b
: an indication or outline of policy or conduct
Examples of guideline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Without such a guideline to point to, the government's case would likely have collapsed, Chapman said, adding that the issue will be raised on appeal.
—
Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 24 Apr. 2024
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have issued much tougher guidelines for reviewing transactions than have held sway over the past 40-odd years.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for guideline 
Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 24 Apr. 2024
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have issued much tougher guidelines for reviewing transactions than have held sway over the past 40-odd years.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for guideline
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guideline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near guideline
Cite this Entry
“Guideline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guideline. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
guideline
noun
guide·line
ˈgīd-ˌlīn 
1
: a line by which one is guided
2
: an outline of standards for future policy or action
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share