ground rule
noun
Usually ground rules.
basic or governing principles of conduct in any situation or field of endeavor: the ground rules of press conferences.
Sports.
any of certain rules specially adopted, as in baseball and softball, for dealing with situations or circumstances arising chiefly from the particular nature of the playing area or the interference of spectators.
Origin of ground rule
An Americanism dating back to 1885–90
Words nearby ground rule
ground provisions,
ground rent,
ground robin,
ground rod,
ground row,
ground rule,
ground rule double,
ground rules,
ground run,
ground shark,
ground sloth
Example sentences from the Web for ground rule
On that basis, I'd call the Post piece at least a ground-rule double.
British Dictionary definitions for ground rule
ground rule
noun
a procedural rule or principle