guideline

noun

guide·​line ˈgīd-ˌlīn 

: a line by which one is guided: such as

a

: a cord or rope to aid a passer over a difficult point or to permit retracing a course

b

: an indication or outline of policy or conduct

new guidelines on nutrition

Examples of guideline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At Lam's initial court appearance, a prosecutor estimated that federal sentencing guidelines could call for a prison term of at least 14 years if he is convicted. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026

These are people with annual incomes either below the federal poverty guidelines — just under $16,000 for a single-person household — or 30% of the median income in their area, whichever is higher. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

This will look different for everyone, but all retirees should follow some basic spending guidelines. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

At Lam’s first court appearance, a prosecutor estimated that his sentencing guidelines would recommend a prison term of at least 14 years upon conviction. — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for guideline

• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine
• caroline
• centerline

Kids Definition

guideline

noun

guide·​line ˈgīd-ˌlīn 

1

: a line by which one is guided

2

: an outline of standards for future policy or action