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.
The Sora app, which remains invite-only, has taken a shoot-first, aim-later approach to safety guardrails, which has raised alarms with intellectual property lawyers, public figures and disinformation researchers. Bobby Allyn, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025 Without guardrails, even a handful of poorly sized trades can erode months of progress. Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025 When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025 When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 13 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 21 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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