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

Synonyms

• balustrade
• banister
• bannister
• rail
• railing

Examples of guardrail in a Sentence

the car ran off the road, but fortunately only hit the guardrail

Recent Examples on the Web

For starters, security is a major concern—cross-chain interactions add complexity and introduce new risks, and the guardrails to protect against them are still evolving. —Wesley Crook, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025

State Department of Transportation crews responded to repair the guardrail. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025

Or have the guardrails corroded so badly that anyone now faces the prospect of the President’s pen becoming a sword? —Miles Taylor, Time, 3 June 2025

Wilde said the move from Sasse to Ono suggests UF may be seeking a leader with stronger academic credentials, but under tighter political guardrails. —Garrett Shanley, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for guardrail

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids Definition

guardrail

noun

guard·​rail ˈgär-ˌdrāl 

: a protective railing placed along dangerous areas (as of a road)