Guideline
Guideline noun - A rule or principle that provides guidance to appropriate behavior.
Show all Definitions
Synonyms for Guideline
Rule is a synonym for guideline in direction topic. In some cases you can use "Rule" instead a noun "Guideline", when it comes to topics like regulation.
Nearby Word: guide
Rule
Rule noun - A statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity.
Usage example: read the rules that are posted before you use the pool
Guideline is a synonym for rule in regulation topic. You can use "Guideline" instead a noun "Rule", if it concerns topics such as standard.
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
| simple | simple guideline | simple rule |
| real | real guideline | real rule |
| important | important guideline | important rule |
| general | general guideline | general rule |
| Other adjectives: official, basic, unwritten, optional, hard-and-fast, self-imposed. | ||
Both words in one sentence
- It started with the Golden Rule, but the only thing it really wants is cat pictures, so it wasn't much of a guideline.
Source: The Golden Rule - Luke: [Shines flashlight in Anthony's eyes] That's really more of a guideline than a rule.
Source: There Are No Rules - Probably the Trope Codifier in film, despite the trope being less a hard and fast rule and more of a general guideline.
Source: Never the Selves Shall Meet
Cite this Source
Rule and Guideline. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/guideline/rule
Guideline & Rule. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/guideline/rule>.
Rule or Guideline. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/guideline/rule.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "guideline" and "rule" have occurred on timeline