guardrail

[ gahrd-reyl ]

noun

1. Also guardrailing. a protective railing, rail, railing, as along a road or stairway.
2. Railroads. a rail laid parallel to a track to prevent derailment or to keep derailed rolling stock from leaving the roadbed.

guardrail

/ ˈɡɑːdˌreɪl /

noun

1. a railing at the side of a staircase, road, etc, as a safety barrier
2. Also called (Brit)checkrail railways a short metal rail fitted to the inside of the main rail to provide additional support in keeping a train's wheels on the track

Word History and Origins

Origin of guardrail¹

First recorded in 1825–35; guard + rail ¹

Example Sentences

The German leader of over 16 years said Trump’s partnership with Musk threatened to strain the guardrails the government should be imposing on big business.

From Salon

Let’s do what we can to put guardrails in place, where her greatness and her popularity can soar, but making sure we always have her safety in mind.

From Los Angeles Times

As we all know, there aren't many guardrails left but Trumpian dysfunction is actually one of them and it's still fully operational.

From Salon

The stock market initially shot up after the election presumably because investors anticipated a business-friendly administration with fewer guardrails.

From Salon

That wouldn’t just test the guardrails on a president’s powers, it would “crash through them,” wrote Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center for Justice.

From Los Angeles Times