Definition

1. Noun:

   • An official rule or directive made and maintained by an authority: A "regulation" is a specific requirement or restriction established by a government, organization, or other body to control conduct.
   • The act or process of controlling, directing, or adjusting something according to a rule or system: "Regulation" refers to the action of bringing order, consistency, or conformity to a process or activity.
   • The state of being controlled or governed: It can describe the condition where something is subject to rules or oversight.

2. Adjective:

   • Conforming to or required by an official rule or standard: When used before a noun, "regulation" describes something that is standard, prescribed, or in accordance with the rules.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The new safety regulations require all workers to wear helmets. (The official rules mandate helmet use.)
  • Strict regulation of the financial industry is necessary. (The act of controlling the financial industry is needed.)
  • The factory operates under government regulation. (The factory is in a state of being governed by official rules.)

• Adjective:

  • He was wearing the regulation uniform. (He was wearing the standard, officially required uniform.)
  • The device must be of regulation size to fit. (The device must be of the standard, prescribed size.)

Advanced Usage

• "To bring/come under regulation": to become subject to official rules or control.
  • The industry was brought under stricter regulation after the scandal.
• "Self-regulation": the process whereby an organization or group polices its own activities according to agreed rules, rather than by external authority.
  • The profession emphasizes ethical self-regulation by its members.

Variants and Related Words

• Regulate (verb): to control or direct according to a rule, principle, or law.
  • Laws exist to regulate traffic flow.
• Regulatory (adjective): serving or intended to regulate something.
  • The agency has broad regulatory powers.
• Regulator (noun): a person or body that supervises a particular industry or activity.
  • The financial regulator issued a warning.

Synonyms

• Rule: a prescribed guide for conduct or action.
• Law: a binding custom or practice of a community; a rule of conduct or action established by an authority.
• Ordinance: an authoritative decree or direction.
• Control: the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events.

Different Meanings

• (Embryology): The ability of an early embryo to continue normal development after damage to its structure.
  • The embryo showed remarkable regulation, developing normally despite the injury.
• (General): A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior.
  • Punctuality is an unwritten regulation in their office.

Adjective

1. prescribed by or according to regulation
   • regulation army equipment

Noun

1. the act of controlling or directing according to rule
   • fiscal regulations are in the hands of politicians
2. the act of bringing to uniformity; making regular
3. (embryology) the ability of an early embryo to continue normal development after its structure has been somehow damaged or altered
4. the state of being controlled or governed
5. a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
   • it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast
   • short haircuts were the regulation
6. an authoritative rule