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Definition of guideword

guideword

/ˈɡaɪdˌwɜːrd/
guide · word
Plural:guidewords
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guideword Lexical Profile

guideword Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A word printed at the top of a page in a dictionary or other reference book to indicate the first or last entry on that page.

Example

"The teacher showed the students how to check the guideword at the top of the dictionary page to locate entries more quickly."

2

A word or short phrase that serves as a motto, guiding principle, or cue in a learner's dictionary to distinguish between multiple senses of a polysemous entry.

Example

"Each definition in the learner's dictionary begins with a bold guideword to help readers immediately identify the relevant meaning."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for guideword

• Nearby Words

guideline
guidepost
guideway
guideword
guild
guildhall
guile

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Guideword. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/guideword
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