as a rule meaning

• Usually
• 
  [American idiom]
  usually; almost always.
  • He can be found in his office as a general rule.
  • As a general rule, Jane plays golf on Wednesdays.
  • As a rule, things tend to get less busy after supper time.
  
• 
  [American slang]
  in general; usually.
    As a rule, men should wear tuxedos at formal dinners.
    As a rule, the bus picks me up at 7:30 every morning.

• rule:    Noun: rule &n ...
• rule in:    Verb: rule inInclu ...
• rule, rule of law | rule | rule of law | rule of law rule |:    [Law]RULE - This i ...

Examples

1. as a rule we have no trouble.
2. wealthy landowners are therefore as a rule exempted.
3. as a rule these materials do not show hysteresis.
4. as a rule i am home by six.
5. as a rule this concerns only part of the whole terminator.