gag rule

American

noun

any rule restricting open discussion or debate concerning a given issue, especially in a deliberative body.

gag rule British

noun

any closure regulation adopted by a deliberative body

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gag rule

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tax rules are constantly changing, so it’s best to make your decisions based on long-term financial goals rather than tax brackets.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026

Tax rules are not on the list of things most people turn to for comfort after a bad day.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2016

Tax rules spell out the minimum interest rate the parents must charge to avoid having a below-market-rate loan treated as a taxable gift.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2015

Tax rules may also be slowing down the start of IRAs.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023