guardrail

noun

guard·​rail ˈgärd-ˌrāl How to pronounce guardrail (audio)
: a railing guarding usually against danger
especially : a barrier placed along the edge of a highway at dangerous points

Examples of guardrail in a Sentence

the car ran off the road, but fortunately only hit the guardrail
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.
OpenAI included numerous guardrails with Sora, including moderation, restrictions on scammy, violent and pornographic material, watermarks and controls over how one's likeness is used. Bobby Allyn, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025 So there were no guardrails externally put on us. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025 Safety advocates warn that lack of guardrails could lead to misuse. Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025 In addition to cost of living wage increases, the guild is also seeking to preserve layoff protections and add new guardrails to the contract that prevent work from being outsourced to third-party companies and/or non-union labor. Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guardrail

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guardrail was in 1860

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guardrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guardrail. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

guardrail

noun
guard·​rail ˈgär-ˌdrāl How to pronounce guardrail (audio)
: a protective railing placed along dangerous areas (as of a road)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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