Meaning & use
guard rail or guardrail
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A strong metal bar or fence placed beside a road or dangerous area to stop people or vehicles from going off.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a guard rail' or 'guard rails'. It can be written as one word or two.
Patterns
- a guard rail along something
- a guard rail on a road
- hit a guard rail
The car skidded and hit the guard rail on the highway.
Workers installed a new guard rail along the cliff path.
The guard rail was bent after the accident.
nouncountable
A rail fixed on a staircase, balcony, or machine to prevent people from falling or touching moving parts.
Grammar: Same countable use; context makes clear whether it is on a road or inside a building.
Patterns
- hold the guard rail
- a guard rail on a machine
- a guard rail around something
Hold the guard rail while you go down the stairs.
The machine has a guard rail to keep hands away from the blades.
A guard rail around the balcony keeps children safe.
Word forms
| plural | guard rails |
|---|---|
| plural | guardrails |
Common combinations
- hit a guard rail
- The truck hit a guard rail and stopped.
- install a guard rail
- They will install a guard rail along the bridge.
- a guard rail along the road
- A guard rail along the road prevents cars from falling.
- hold on to the guard rail
- Hold on to the guard rail as you walk down.
- a metal guard rail
- A metal guard rail separated the two lanes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- crash barrier
- Crash barrier is the usual British term for a road safety barrier, while guard rail is common in American English and can also refer to indoor rails.
- railing
- A railing is a fence-like barrier, often on a balcony or stairs; a guard rail is usually a single strong bar for safety.
- handrail
- A handrail is designed to be held by hand, especially on stairs; a guard rail is mainly to stop people or vehicles from falling or leaving the area.
Word family
Commonly confused: guard rail or guardrail or guardrail?
guard rail or guardrail vs guardrail
This is just the one-word spelling of the same thing; it is not a different word.
Practice
Which sentence is correct in American English?
Choose one answer.
In American English, 'guardrail' is usually written as one word. 'Guard rail' (option 0) is also correct, especially in British English, but the question asks for American usage. 'Guard-rails' and 'guard railings' are not the standard forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “guard rail or guardrail”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.