Regulation

Definition

The term "regulation" denotes (1) a rule or directive issued and maintained by an authority, (2) the act or process of controlling, governing, or standardizing something, or (3) a standard condition or size regarded as officially prescribed. As an adjective, it means “conforming to established rules or standards.”

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Adjective (attributive use, e.g., “regulation size”)

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˌrɛɡjuˈleɪʃən/
• Respelling: REG‑yoo‑LAY‑shən

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/
• Respelling: REG‑yuh‑LAY‑shən

Etymology

"Regulation" entered English in the early 15th century, from Medieval Latin regulātiō (“direction, rule”), derived from Latin regulāre (“to guide, rule”) and ultimately from regula (“straight stick, rule”).

Derivatives

• Regulate (verb)
• Regulator (noun)
• Regulatory (adjective)
• Deregulation (noun)
• Self‑regulation (noun)

Synonyms

• Rule
• Directive
• Control
• Policy
• Governance

Antonyms

• Deregulation
• Chaos
• Disorder
• Anarchy

Usage

"Regulation" features prominently in legal, governmental, scientific, and business contexts. Examples: "The company must comply with environmental regulations," or "Temperature regulation is vital for biological homeostasis."

Related Terms

• Law: A system of rules enacted by a governing body.
• Compliance: The act of adhering to regulations or standards.
• Standard: An established norm or requirement.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A rule or directive set by authority: Legally enforceable instructions governing behavior or procedures.
  • Example: "New safety regulations were introduced after the incident."
• The act or process of controlling or adjusting: Management of a system to maintain desired conditions.
  • Example: "Gene regulation determines which proteins a cell produces."
• An official standard or prescribed size: Something meeting established specifications.
  • Example: "Players must use a regulation basketball for the tournament."

Adjective

• Conforming to official rules or standards; standard:
  • Example: "He wore the regulation uniform."