regulation 1 of 2

noun

ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce regulation (audio)
Definition of regulationnext
1
as in rule
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity it's against community regulations to leave your trash on the curb for more than two days

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something the owner seldom visited the plant and did not take an active part in the regulation of the company

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in oversight
the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control the regulation of the soccer team was left entirely to the head coach and her assistants

Synonyms & Similar Words

regulation

2 of 2

adjective

as in legal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word regulation distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of regulation are canon, law, ordinance, precept, rule, and statute. While all these words mean "a principle governing action or procedure," regulation implies prescription by authority in order to control an organization or system.

regulations affecting nuclear power plants

When could canon be used to replace regulation?

While the synonyms canon and regulation are close in meaning, canon suggests in nonreligious use a principle or rule of behavior or procedure commonly accepted as a valid guide.

the canons of good taste

When is law a more appropriate choice than regulation?

Although the words law and regulation have much in common, law implies imposition by a sovereign authority and the obligation of obedience on the part of all subject to that authority.

obey the law

When might ordinance be a better fit than regulation?

While in some cases nearly identical to regulation, ordinance applies to an order governing some detail of procedure or conduct enforced by a limited authority such as a municipality.

a city ordinance

When is it sensible to use precept instead of regulation?

The words precept and regulation can be used in similar contexts, but precept commonly suggests something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching.

the precepts of effective writing

When can rule be used instead of regulation?

In some situations, the words rule and regulation are roughly equivalent. However, rule applies to more restricted or specific situations.

the rules of the game

When would statute be a good substitute for regulation?

The words statute and regulation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, statute implies a law enacted by a legislative body.

a statute requiring the use of seat belts

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of regulation
Noun
McIlroy squandered plenty of chances to win the tournament in regulation, including a four-foot par putt on the 72nd hole that slid just below the hole. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025 If the Wild are able to get one point in their finale versus Anaheim on Tuesday, or if Calgary loses any of its three remaining games — in regulation or in overtime — the Wild are in the playoffs. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Brett Maher went 6-for-9 on field goals while kicking into a non-regulation, skinny post, his longest from 50 yards. —Dallas News, 18 Aug. 2022 Still, presuming that the anti-regulation guests also made misleading scientific statements (no big assumption, given the way this debate tends to go), the result is closely related. —Chris Mooney, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2011 See All Example Sentences for regulation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regulation
  1. rule
  2. management
  3. oversight
  4. legal
  5. law
  6. supervision
  7. stewardship
  8. lawful
Noun
  • The only issue with the price Chelsea Women was sold for was that they were bought by their parent company in a move that helped the men’s team comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) in 2023-24.
    — Matt Slater, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The top attorney for a California board that enforces labor rules said Thursday that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office may have violated state law over its handling of an order directing many public employees to work in person four days a week.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of rule
Noun
  • To avoid these pitfalls, companies need to treat office redesign as a change management project—not just a facilities project.
    — Ryan Anderson, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Trump and Zuckerberg have a complicated history, with the president being critical of the Silicon Valley CEO's management of online censorship, which culminated in a ban from Meta platforms after the January 6 riots.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of management
Noun
  • The Food and Drug Administration is drawing up plans that would end most of its routine food safety inspections work, multiple federal health officials tell CBS News, and effectively outsource this oversight to state and local authorities.
    — Alexander Tin, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Burgum claimed the project's approval under the Biden administration was rushed and lacked proper oversight.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of oversight
Adjective
  • The Supreme Court recently banned race-conscious admissions, for example, and many colleges have moved to end race-specific scholarships after facing legal challenges.
    — Emma Green, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The showdown is the most significant legal challenge brought against Meta in the company's roughly 20-year history.
    — Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of legal
Noun
  • The memo signed by Rubio also makes the case that another person, whose name is redacted, should be deportable under the same law.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • But these laws have not historically extended to child influencers and social media stars — leaving the influencer space largely free of guidelines and any external accountability.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of law
Noun
  • Parents shouldn’t give vitamin A without a doctor’s supervision, because giving too much can cause liver damage.
    — Meg Wingerter, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • However, while therapeutic when used under medical supervision, testosterone's classification as a steroid means Kennedy's claim of not using anabolic steroids is technically incorrect.
    — Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of supervision
Noun
  • The White House remains committed to the stewardship and preservation of its historic grounds.
    — Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The employees said cuts, which have hit the agency’s recreation, wildlife, IT and other divisions, show the Trump administration is shifting the agency’s focus away from environmental stewardship and toward industry and firefighting.
    — Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of stewardship
Adjective
  • These refugees, most of whom are women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, fled an active war zone through a lawful program initiated by the U.S. government.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In the government’s memo filed Thursday, Rubio cited an obscure provision in the law giving his office the power to deport noncitizens whose activities, even if lawful, could pose unfavorable foreign policy consequences.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of lawful

Browse Nearby Words

regulating
regulation
regulations
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Cite this Entry

“Regulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regulation. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on regulation

Nglish: Translation of regulation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about regulation

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