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.
With no guardrails, there will be no limit to the amount of institutional money that will be on the table when the Texas Longhorns complete with Notre Dame to recruit the next Heisman Trophy prospect or for an experienced and proven defensive end from the transfer portal. Donna Lopiano, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 These guardrails are even more necessary now, the organization argues, due to the avian flu, which has ravaged poultry and cattle across the country and has infected small numbers of agricultural workers. Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2025 So Democrats are using their leverage to demand guardrails that would limit the executive branch’s discretion and require the Trump administration to carry out spending directed by Congress. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2025 Republicans are weighing whether to keep a coveted IRA manufacturing tax credit while putting stricter guardrails on Chinese imports. Daniel Moore, Axios, 25 Feb. 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 9 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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