as a rule

phrase

Synonyms of as a rulenext
: for the most part : generally
As a rule, I don't drive in the snow.

Examples of as a rule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The emotional compass of the United Farm Workers of America for decades, the petite mother of 14 attained singular stature as a rule-breaking proto-feminist, godmother of the Chicano power movement and doyenne of American labor. — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s right side is undersized as a rule and net-front defence is a challenge. — Murat Ates, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Generative AI wasn't trained on E-E-A-T as a rule book, but it's absorbed the same logic. — Charles Nicholls, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Xi has stressed the importance of projecting an image of China as a rule-of-law country. — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for as a rule

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of as a rule was in 1828

Rhymes for as a rule

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Browse Nearby Words

asarotum
as a rule
asarum camphor
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Cite this Entry

“As a rule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as%20a%20rule. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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