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rule of thumb Definition

rule of thumb

noun

  1. a rule based on experience or practice rather than on scientific knowledge
  2. any method of estimating that is practical though not precise

Etymology: from the method of measuring by the thumb

rule of thumb Synonyms

rule of thumb

n.

approximation, estimate, general guideline; see guess, hypothesis.

rule of thumb Telecom Definition

A rule, or guideline, based on experience and sound judgement rather than scientific knowledge.The origin of the term is vague, but some suggest that it originated in the practice of carpenters, seamstresses, artists, and other craftsmen of using their thumb to approximate measurements.The fact that the measurement of an inch is based on the distance between the thumbnail and the first joint certainly lends credence to this theory.