- present participle of rule.
ruling
Americannoun
adjective
-
governing or dominating.
the ruling party.
-
controlling; predominating.
the ruling factor in recovery from an illness.
-
widespread; prevalent.
ruling prices; ruling values.
noun
-
a decision of someone in authority, such as a judge
-
one or more parallel ruled lines
adjective
-
controlling or exercising authority
the ruling classes
-
prevalent or predominant
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of ruling
1175–1225; Middle English (gerund); see rule, -ing 1, -ing 2
Explanation
The official decision a judge makes is a ruling. You can also use this word as an adjective, to describe something or someone in charge, like a ruling political party. The group with political power in a country might be described as the ruling coalition, and the government itself could be called the ruling authority. When it's a noun, the word ruling has a legal meaning: it's the court's opinion. This definition dates from the 1550s, from the verb rule, from its Latin root regula, "straight stick or bar."
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.
In his 84-page ruling, Peinado rejected the argument that the police who routinely provide protection to Gomez would prevent her from fleeing.
From Barron's • Jun. 20, 2026
The Supreme Court handed down a unanimous ruling this week in United States v.
From Slate • Jun. 20, 2026
The judge said in his 84-page ruling that "instructions shall be issued to all border posts and civilian and military airports" to ensure Gomez complies with the ban on leaving the country.
From Barron's • Jun. 20, 2026
A Virginia appeals court ruling halted the project, and local officials have declined to stand up for it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
Some of what he said made me fear that I would never, never get inside Central High School, even though the separate-is-not-equal ruling was law.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
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.
