rule of thumb
noun phrase
1
: a method of procedure based on experience and common sense
2
: a general principle regarded as roughly correct but not intended to be scientifically accurate
Examples of rule of thumb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As a rule of thumb, the shorter the sequence or read of base pairs, the older the DNA, Meyer-Kaiser said.
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Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Hang Art at Different Levels When hanging a piece of art above your desk, a good rule of thumb is to hang it about 8-10 inches above its surface.
—Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
For many years, the rule of thumb was that working hard will guarantee some level of success.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
How to Do a Self Breast Exam Weiss’s rule of thumb?
—Anisa Arsenault, Health, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule of thumb
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Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Hang Art at Different Levels When hanging a piece of art above your desk, a good rule of thumb is to hang it about 8-10 inches above its surface.
—Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
For many years, the rule of thumb was that working hard will guarantee some level of success.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
How to Do a Self Breast Exam Weiss’s rule of thumb?
—Anisa Arsenault, Health, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule of thumb
Cite this Entry
“Rule of thumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20of%20thumb. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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