regulatory
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the control or direction of an activity by a set of rules, laws, etc..
The Coast Guard is to be commended for this current regulatory effort, as their proposed restriction addresses many concerns of the seafaring community.
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of or relating to the adjustment of a device, system, or organic function so as to meet a standard or the requirements of good operation.
Earth's climate is a highly complex system with its own regulatory mechanisms.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of regulatory
Explanation
Regulatory describes something that holds you to the rules. Detention is regulatory, as are other kinds of punishments. When your mom tells you not to run in the house, she’s being regulatory. You’ll notice most of the word regulate is in regulatory. That’s because when something is regulatory, it’s regulated. You also might be reminded of the word regular. Things that are regulatory, like being forced to stay in for recess, are intended to keep things regular — no breaking rules, no breaking laws, no breaking at all. Things that are regulatory are meant to keep you from falling out of line.
Vocabulary lists containing regulatory
Top Ten Most Relevant Words from Republican Presidential Candidates' Debate - Nov. 10, 2015
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The Executive Branch at Work, Sections 1–3
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Vocabulary from the Ninth Republican Debate, February 13, 2016
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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.
The expansions have already received regulatory approvals and are commercially underpinned by long-term take-or-pay contracts, Enbridge said Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney wrote Wednesday that the settlement could be a catalyst for Meta shares, which have been “materially dislocated” due to regulatory concerns and fears about artificial-intelligence spending levels.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
World Horse Welfare said unlike other animals such as dogs, there are no regulatory or voluntary industry standards for horse trading, so it is "vital" that sellers and prospective buyers do their due diligence.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“What matters more is that Meta has accepted enforceable constraints on the design of its products—and that the states have produced a regulatory template they can now take to the rest of the industry.”
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
He went looking for court rulings, deal completions, or government regulatory changes—anything that might change the value of a company.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
