guardrail
noun
guard·rail
ˈgärd-ˌrāl 
: 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
In 2021, the legislature passed AB 347, placing strict guardrails on step therapy and limiting its use to protect patients from unnecessary delays.
—
Liz Helms, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Those guardrails are in place because air pollutants that come from the generators, like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and ‘fine particulate matter’ are known to cause lung and heart health issues when inhaled.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
In response, Altman fielded questions publicly over X on Saturday evening and announced on Monday that OpenAI had adjusted its Pentagon contract to more clearly establish guardrails that would prevent OpenAI services from being used in surveillance programs.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
More recently, California has also advanced new guardrails for teen safety online — including stronger age assurance and new safeguards for AI chatbots used by minors — alongside broader efforts to expand access to youth mental-health training and resources.
—Chris Lehane, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for guardrail
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Liz Helms, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Those guardrails are in place because air pollutants that come from the generators, like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and ‘fine particulate matter’ are known to cause lung and heart health issues when inhaled.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
In response, Altman fielded questions publicly over X on Saturday evening and announced on Monday that OpenAI had adjusted its Pentagon contract to more clearly establish guardrails that would prevent OpenAI services from being used in surveillance programs.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
More recently, California has also advanced new guardrails for teen safety online — including stronger age assurance and new safeguards for AI chatbots used by minors — alongside broader efforts to expand access to youth mental-health training and resources.
—Chris Lehane, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for guardrail
Cite this Entry
“Guardrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guardrail. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
guardrail
noun
guard·rail
ˈgär-ˌdrāl
: a protective railing placed along dangerous areas (as of a road)
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