regulatory
Americanadjective
-
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.
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Executive Branch at Work, Sections 1–3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from the Ninth Republican Debate, February 13, 2016
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Sykes of Gabelli continues to favor Wells Fargo as an investment because of the ongoing remediation story after the Federal Reserve lifted its regulatory cap on the bank’s asset growth last year.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 11, 2026
T lymphocytes, including regulatory T cells and γδ T cells, also help coordinate healing and regulate inflammation.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
In April 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14276, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” which instructed government officials to reduce regulatory burdens and boost the commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors in the United States.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
Speaking at the event, Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm and Mukesh Ambani's son, said the company was developing its own satellite communications technology and working towards regulatory approvals.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
The third cardinal feature of gene regulation, Monod and Jacob discovered, was that every gene had specific regulatory DNA sequences appended to it that acted like recognition tags.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
