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

It is a role that is as much about setting the right rules and guardrails and culture for the financial markets than it is about enforcing them.

From Washington Post

It was the first time I was put in a situation where the guardrails were lifted.

From Washington Post

It also drew controversy when a lack of guardrails allowed an array of larger and otherwise wealthy organizations to receive the taxpayer-subsidized funds.

From Washington Post

Officials acknowledged that they’d made mistakes upfront but said they’d installed guardrails to protect people’s privacy and mitigate the potential for abuse.

From Voice of San Diego

It’s why some experts emphasize the need for guardrails to prevent satire from blurring into abuse.

From MIT Technology Review

The assassins apparently first bashed the car Fornari was driving several times, finally pushing it into a guardrail.

From The Daily Beast

A bus driver was cruising along a Buffalo highway when he noticed a woman standing on the wrong side of the guardrail.

From The Daily Beast

When first responders arrived at the scene, they found a minor crash that caused little damage to the vehicle or the guardrail.

From The Daily Beast