polestar

/ˈpoʊlˌstɑr/
noun
  1. A star that is used as a guide, especially the North Star (Polaris).
    • Sailors used the polestar to navigate across the ocean at night.
    • The polestar appears fixed in the northern sky while other stars rotate around it.
    • In the Northern Hemisphere, the polestar is a reliable reference for finding direction.
  2. A guiding principle or central focus that directs someone's actions or decisions.
    • The team used the mission statement as a polestar to keep their project on track.
    • Her commitment to honesty served as a polestar throughout her career.
    • For the company, customer satisfaction is the polestar of every decision.
What does "polestar" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean