deregulate

American  

[dee-reg-yuh-leyt] / diˈrɛg yəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

deregulated, deregulating

1. to remove government regulatory controls from (an industry, a commodity, etc.).

   to deregulate the trucking industry; to deregulate oil prices.

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verb (used without object)

deregulated, deregulating

1. to undergo deregulation.

   Some banks have already started to deregulate.

deregulate British  

/ diːˈrɛɡjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to remove regulations or controls from

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Other Word Forms

• deregulation noun
• deregulator noun
• deregulatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of deregulate

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65; de- + regulate

Explanation

Deregulate is a verb that means to take away the rules. When someone deregulates a soccer game, the game could become a muddy wrestling match without any rules to keep things on track. You’ll notice the word regulate at the end of deregulate. Regulate is also a verb, and it means to “control something by rules.” To deregulate something, you take away the rules. If you deregulate a game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey at your little sister’s birthday party, you could end up with a tail on your face.

Example Sentences

In the late ’80s and ’90s, countries began to deregulate media, satellite dishes multiplied on roofs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

In the 1990s and early 2000s, about half of U.S. states chose to deregulate their electricity markets, taking electricity generation out of the hands of monopoly utilities.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

The White House said Trump is committed to making “American leadership in space great again,” noting his first-term push to return U.S. astronauts to the moon and his efforts to deregulate the U.S. space industry.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 20, 2025

"State legislators might start thinking about it. In the past it was deemed very tough for a state to deregulate when the federal government still makes it a serious crime."

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2024

To meet increased   competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria   will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy,   continue to deregulate the service sector, and lower its tax burden.

From The 2003 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency