# guideline

Pronunciation: say "GYD-lyn" /ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪn/

## Noun

1. A broad principle meant to steer how people act or behave, without laying down exact requirements.
   - Simple: A general rule that helps you decide how to act or behave.
   - _The committee published a guideline encouraging staff to recycle whenever possible._
   - _Volunteers followed loose guidelines rather than rigid rules._
2. A plan or explanation that helps someone set standards or decide on a course of action.
   - Simple: A plan or set of steps that helps you set standards or choose what to do.
   - _The new guideline lays out how to evaluate each application fairly._
   - _Engineers consulted the guidelines before approving the bridge design._
3. A light line used in lettering to help keep the text aligned.
   - Simple: A faint line drawn to help keep letters straight and even when writing by hand.
   - _The calligrapher ruled a faint guideline across the page before starting._
   - _Once the ink dried, she erased the guidelines beneath the lettering._

## Verb

4. To provide guidelines for an activity, process, or area of conduct.
   - Simple: To give people rules or directions for how something should be done.
   - _The agency moved to guideline emerging uses of the technology._
   - _Industry bodies guideline how their members handle customer data._

## Origin

Formed from "guide" plus "line."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/guideline (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).