Nuclear Regulatory Commission

American  

[noo-klee-er reg-yuh-luh-tawr-ee kuh-mish-uhn, nyoo-] / ˈnu kli ər ˈrɛg yə ləˌtɔr i kəˈmɪʃ ən, ˈnyu- /

noun

U.S. Government.

1. an independent agency, created in 1975, that licenses and regulates the nonmilitary use of nuclear energy. NRC

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Nuclear Regulatory Commission Cultural  

1. An agency of the United States government responsible for licensing and regulating nuclear power plants. Created in 1974, along with the Energy Research and Development Administration, it replaced the Atomic Energy Commission.

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Pronunciation

See nuclear ( def. ).

Example Sentences

Many small modular-reactor, or SMR, designs have yet to receive full design certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

It will also require the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an independent federal agency, is in the process of finalizing a new regulatory framework for the fusion industry that some experts describe as a “light-touch” approach.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

Just last week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the Principal Design Criteria for Aurora—essentially, a foundational rulebook for the plant’s safety and performance standards.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Officials at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the United States had the same thought.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland