hardline

English

Alternative forms

• hard line (considered by some to be a misspelling)
• hard-line

Etymology

hard +‎ line

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɑː(ɹ)dlaɪn/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

hardline (plural hardlines)

1. (business) A retail product collection consisting primarily of hardware targeting the do-it-yourself customer.
   • 2002, John Cornell III, Hardlines FAQ (live original), Hardlines Digest:

     The Hardlines Digest is an Internet mailing list for members of the retail hardware and home center industry.

2. (business) A retail product collection which includes many non-information goods, such as home appliances, housewares, and sporting goods, in addition to the DIY hardware which is the focus of the first definition, above.
   • 2010, Staff, Target June Comps "Relatively Soft" - Update (live original), RTTNews:

     Comparable-store sales in hardlines declined in the mid single-digit range, with the strongest performance in sporting goods.

3. (telephony) A physical wire or cable connection; landline

Adjective

hardline (not comparable)

1. Uncompromising; rigidly holding to a set of beliefs.

   Smith's hardline approach to drugs gained him the support of many local citizens.

   • 2023 December 19, Angelique Chrisafis, “France passes controversial immigration bill amid deep division in Macron’s party”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     Emmanuel Macron’s ruling centrist party was divided and soul-searching on Wednesday after a strict new immigration law was approved by parliament but contained so many hardline measures that the far-right Marine Le Pen claimed it as an “ideological victory” for her own anti-immigration platform.

2. (business) Belonging to a hardline.

   hardline product

   • 2010, Hardline Services by SGS (live page), SGS Group:

     Safety, product quality and performance are prerequisites for all hardline products such as toys, cosmetics, furniture, jewellery, DIY, etc.

Derived terms

• hardliner

References