A signpost is a post with signs attached to it that shows travelers which direction to go. You've probably seen signposts at trail intersections in parks, with wooden arrows pointing different ways and displaying distances: “Lake View: 2 miles” or “Parking Lot: 0.5 miles.” Highway signposts tell drivers which exit leads to which city.

Before GPS and smartphones, signposts were essential for navigation. Towns placed them at crossroads so travelers wouldn't get lost. Even today, when you're hiking or biking, signposts help you stay on the right path and know how far you have left to go.

The word also describes anything that indicates direction or helps you understand where you are in a process. A teacher might provide signposts in a long lecture by saying, “Now we're moving to the second main idea” or “This next part explains why the first part matters.” When you're reading a challenging book, chapter titles and section headings act as signposts that help you follow the author's thinking. Writers use signposting to guide readers through complicated arguments or stories, just like those trail markers guide hikers through the woods.