guidance

noun

guid·​ance ˈgī-dᵊn(t)s 

1

: the act or process of guiding

2

a

: the direction provided by a guide

giving expert/moral/spiritual guidance

couldn't have done it without her guidance

b

: advice on vocational or educational problems given to students

a guidance counselor

providing guidance on scholarships

3

: the process of controlling the course of a projectile by a built-in mechanism

problems with the missile's guidance

Synonyms of guidance

• advice

Examples of guidance in a Sentence

I couldn't have done it without her guidance.

We need more guidance on how to handle these unusual cases.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most notably, the European Food Safety Authority is updating its guidance on energy drinks, having given the drinks a soft pass a decade ago. — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

Of late, the court seems to be making an effort to offer some limited explanations of its emergency docket rulings, but lower court judges, both liberal and conservative, complain that isn't enough to provide them with adequate guidance. — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

In a statement, ICE downplayed the significance of the memo, which said the new guidance was intended to replace and amend prior directives issued earlier this year, last year and in 2018. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026

Current state guidance says that most retaliation complaints handled by that office must be filed within one year of the adverse action, although exceptions apply. — William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

guide entry 2 + -ance

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing guidance

• guidance counselor
• inertial guidance
• marriage guidance

Rhymes for guidance

• subsidence

Kids Definition

guidance

noun

guid·​ance ˈgīd-ᵊn(t)s 

1

: the act or process of guiding

2

: advice given to students to help them make educational or personal decisions

3

: the process of controlling the course (as of a missile) by built-in equipment

guidance system