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.
Seeing the vulnerability of the measure, put in place by executive order, advocates had pushed the Biden administration to institute stronger guardrails before leaving office this month to protect beneficiaries. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025 And O’Neill, a two-time Oscar nominee, dismissed any talk about Silicon Valley giants needing fewer guardrails, and not more, to protect U.S. dominance in digital technologies against global competitors like China. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025 These guardrails have allowed America to birth the strongest democracy in the world. Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2025 Congress is eyeing possible changes, and some states have moved to set transparency requirements and other guardrails. Adriel Bettelheim, Axios, 18 Mar. 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 31 Mar. 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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