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Synonyms

Rules

British  
/ ruːlz /

plural noun

  1. short for Australian Rules

  2. English history the neighbourhood around certain prisons (esp the Fleet and King's Bench prison) in which trusted prisoners were allowed to live under specified restrictions

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Rules required minimum lot sizes of 5,750 square feet for single-family homes, and strict single-family zoning ordinances were criticized for creating sprawl.

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

Rules around the promotion irritated customers and servers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Dua Lipa is one of the world's most successful pop artists, with global hits including New Rules, Don't Start Now and Levitating.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

“No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention,” the 2020 book Hastings wrote with journalist Erin Meyer, describes how he initially opposed allowing users to download films and television programs to watch later.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

Brent Chisholm’s big smile, put-together outfit, and ease with strangers didn’t fool me for a hot minute—those were all sure signs of someone with a well-practiced set of Relocation Rules.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

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