hardline

noun

1. A 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.”

2. 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.

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

3. A physical wire or cable connection; landline.

adj

1. (not-comparable)Uncompromising; rigidly holding to a set of beliefs.

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

   “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.”

   “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. (not-comparable)Belonging to a hardline.

   “hardline product”

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