regulation

American  

[reg-yuh-ley-shuhn] / ˌrɛg yəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a law, rule, or other order prescribed by authority, especially to regulate conduct.

   Safety regulations require the use of impact-resistant helmets.

2. the act of regulating or the state of being regulated.

   Adolescence is a potentially important time in the development of emotion regulation.

   Synonyms:

   adjustment, disposition, dispensation, management, direction

3. Sports. the normal, prescribed duration of a game according to the sport's regulations, exclusive of any extra innings, overtime period, etc..

   The Knicks tied the score in the final seconds of regulation, sending the game into overtime.

4. Biology. the internal response that an organism undergoes to adapt to external stimuli (distinguished from control).

   Regulation of blood flow is an essential mechanism for delivering oxygen and glucose to the tissues that need it most.

5. Genetics. the act or process of controlling the expression of genes.

   Scientists are hoping to discover whether viruses can be used to study gene regulation in mammalian cells.

6. Embryology. the process by which an embryo can continue to develop normally after it has been damaged.

   Added cells become normally integrated into the body of the host embryo, which provides additional evidence of embryonic regulation.

7. Electronics. the difference between maximum and minimum voltage drops between the anode and the cathode of a gas tube for a specified range of values of the anode current.

8. Machinery. the percentage difference in some quantity related to the operation of an apparatus or machine, as the voltage output of a transformer or the speed of a motor, between the value of the quantity at no-load operation and its value at full-load operation.

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adjective

1. prescribed by or conforming to regulation.

   regulation army equipment.

2. usual; normal; customary.

   the regulation decorations for a Halloween party.

3. Sports. during the normal, prescribed duration of a game.

   Both teams are entitled to two timeouts in each half of regulation play.

regulation British  

/ ˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of regulating

2. a rule, principle, or condition that governs procedure or behaviour

3. a governmental or ministerial order having the force of law

4. embryol the ability of an animal embryo to develop normally after its structure has been altered or damaged in some way

5. (modifier) as required by official rules or procedure

   regulation uniform

6. (modifier) normal; usual; conforming to accepted standards

   a regulation haircut

7. electrical engineering the change in voltage occurring when a load is connected across a power supply, caused by internal resistance (for direct current) or internal impedance (alternating current)

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regulation Cultural  

1. Laws through which governments can control privately owned businesses.

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Other Word Forms

• nonregulation
  noun
• overregulation
  noun
• reregulation
  noun
• superregulation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of regulation

First recorded in 1665–75; regulate + -ion

Explanation

If you declare that Fridays are Pajama Day, did you create a regulation? No. A regulation is a rule put in place by some authority, such as a government. In fact, there might already be a regulation on the books: No pajamas in school. If you're trying to remember what a regulation is, think about the phrase "rules and regulations." Regulations are often set by governing bodies of a sport or other activity — thus, there is an accepted regulation-size soccer ball, set by FIFA, professional soccer's governing body. Many government agencies are in charge of "regulating" industries, setting up regulations that companies need to follow to keep us all safe.

Example Sentences

“I’ve seen firsthand how small businesses are crushed by regulation and how long it takes for simple permits. I want to change that.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

The overturned regulation outlawing states of emergency dates back to social unrest in 2019 which killed 36 people and led to the resignation of then socialist leader Evo Morales.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Spain’s directorate for gambling regulation said prediction platforms carried gambling risks when these allow users to place wagers on uncertain outcomes, and companies seeking to provide those services need a specific administrative license.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

"The idea that we can control apoB at the RNA level represents a major shift in how we think about cholesterol regulation," Dr. Zhang said.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

It also pointed out the lack of regulation and patient protections in tissue research, and called on legislators to remedy the situation.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Related Words

• adjustment
• arrangement
• control
• governance
• management
• settlement
• supervision