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golden rule
noun
1
capitalized G&R
: a rule of ethical conduct referring to Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31: do to others as you would have them do to you
2
: a guiding principle
Examples of golden rule in a Sentence
I try to live by the Golden Rule.
The golden rule in sales is to know your customer.
Recent Examples on the Web
To minimize disruption, there are three golden rules to seat reclining etiquette that passengers can follow:
Be courteous and ask: Just as every door has a knob to open it, every seat has a button to recline it.
—Niccolo Serratt, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 June 2024
Just to make sure the seller abides by real estate’s golden rule, have the closing agent withhold a chunk of money at settlement to cover the cost of removing the seller’s stuff and cleaning the place properly, if necessary.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 19 May 2024
Do not lean to the golden rule; instead, use an equity lens to package your communications in a palatable way for the receiver.
—Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
When searching for the perfect pair, the golden rule is to choose a set that aligns with your exercise regimen, whether that’s prepping for a triathlon, leisurely lap swimming, or competing professionally.
—Marisa Petrarca, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024
The lack of an official narrative has left room for onlookers to craft their own theories about what’s going on behind closed doors—going against many of the golden rules of PR and communications strategy, experts say.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Just remember the golden rule — have fun and gamble responsibly.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024
Where most brewery and bar owners abide by the golden rule of no talking about religion or politics, Bangstad fully embraces the latter.
—Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024
More stories from the Style section HAND CURATED Bob Menendez’s golden rule
January 23, 2024
French manicures, gold jewelry: The ‘mob wife’ aesthetic takes over TikTok
January 23, 2024
Can this ex-congressman show Trump the path to life after indictment?
—Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'golden rule.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1570, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Dictionary Entries Near golden rule
Cite this Entry
“Golden rule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golden%20rule. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
golden rule
noun
: a rule that one should treat others as one would like to be treated
More from Merriam-Webster on golden rule
Nglish: Translation of golden rule for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about golden rule
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