hardline

plural hardlines · alternative hard line · alternative hard-line

1. businessA retail product collection consisting primarily of hardware targeting the do-it-yourself customer.

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

   2002, John Cornell III, Hardlines FAQ (live original), Hardlines Digest

2. businessA 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.

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

   2010, Staff, Target June Comps "Relatively Soft" - Update (live original), RTTNews

3. communicationsA physical wire or cable connection; landline.

alternative hard line · alternative hard-line

1. not comparableUncompromising; rigidly holding to a set of beliefs.

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

   2 more examples

   To come up with common, honorable, flexible, sensible, creative, meaningful, non-coercive "codes" or expectations of ethical behavior while avoiding laying down hard-line, guilt-inspiring "politically correct" rules and superficial judgements is no small feat.

   1979, Alix Dobkins, Adventures in Women's Music

   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.

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

2. not comparablebusinessBelonging to a hardline.

   hardline product

   1 more example

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

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