self-regulating

American  

[self-reg-yuh-ley-ting, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈrɛg yəˌleɪ tɪŋ, ˈsɛlf- /

adjective

1. adjusting, ruling, or governing itself without outside interference; operating or functioning without externally imposed controls or regulations.

   a self-regulating economy; the self-regulating market.

2. functioning automatically.

   a self-regulating machine.

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self-regulating British  

adjective

1. (of a business, society, etc) enforcing or upholding its own rules and laws without external agency of intervention

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Etymology

Origin of self-regulating

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

McPhee marveled: “The industry is self-regulating and pays its own way.”

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

This creates a self-regulating way to remove excess droplets and helps prevent water buildup that could interfere with performance.

From Science Daily • Nov. 15, 2025

Its new rule said bump stocks were illegal machine guns because they function as “a self-acting or self-regulating mechanism that allows the firing of multiple rounds through a single function of the trigger.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2024

Railroads are largely self-regulating, but they’re under growing pressure from lawmakers and unions over safety lapses often traced to the condition of tracks and equipment.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 22, 2023

The self-regulating machine is not just a crucial step towards a whole series of more advanced technologies.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• automated
• electric
• electronic
• mechanical