ground rule

noun

Synonyms of ground rulenext
1
: a sports rule adopted to modify play on a particular field, court, or course
2
: a rule of procedure
ground rules for selecting a superintendent.Amer. School Board Jour.

Examples of ground rule in a Sentence

before the debate begins, let's lay out some ground rules
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.
But Alamo breaks his own ground rules, raising his pistol and attempting to fire before the glass breaks. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026 The 62-year-old actor and director, who was greeted by a group of autograph seekers over the weekend, has drawn criticism for laying out ground rules before proceeding with the signing. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026 Troy, a San Jose native, scored his first MLB run later in the second inning on Ketel Marte’s ground rule double off Rockies starter Jose Quintana. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 May 2026 Through the mystery of one person’s fate, a young hero awakens to certain ground rules and discovers a haunted place. Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ground rule

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground rule was in 1890

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ground rule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20rule. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

ground rule

noun
: a rule set up for a specified activity
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster