Regulations — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən/ (noun) /(ˌ)rē-ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən/ (noun) /ˈrül/ (noun) /ˌself-ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən/ (noun) reg·u·la·tion

Meaning & Definition of Regulations

Regulations (noun)

  1. the act of regulating, the state of being regulated
  2. an authoritative rule dealing with details or procedure
  3. a rule or order issued by an executive authority or regulatory agency of a government and having the force of law
  4. the act or process of imposing regulations and restrictions on something (such as an industry) that was previously deregulated
  5. a prescribed guide for conduct or action
  6. the laws or regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for observance by its members
  7. an accepted procedure, custom, or habit
  8. the act or condition or an instance of regulating oneself or itself
  9. control or supervision from within instead of by an external authority; also, a rule imposed in self-regulation
  10. the bringing of oneself or itself into a state of order, method, or uniformity

Regulations (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: bylaws, ground rules, regs, rules
    related: codes, constitutions, decalogues, directories, acts, laws, ordinances, statutes, behests, charges, commandments, commands, decrees, dictates, directions, directives, edicts, fiats, instructions, orders, axioms, fundamentals, maxims, precepts, morals, principles, values, bans, interdictions, prohibitions, proscriptions, restrictions, conventions, customs, habits, manners, mores, practices, traditions, ways, blueprints, canons, formulas, guidelines, guides, standards

  2. 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"

    similar: administrations, care, charges, conducts, controls, directions, governances, governments, guidance, handlings, intendances, managements, operations, oversights, presidencies, stewardships, superintendences, superintendencies, supervisions
    related: generalships, leaderships, rulerships, agencies, aegises, custodies, guardianships, laps, protections, trusts, tutelages, wards, logistics, machinations, manipulations, coadministrations, codirections

  3. 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"

    similar: care, charges, guidance, headships, oversights, stewardships, superintendences, superintendencies, supervisions, surveillances
    related: observances, observations, administrations, controls, directions, generalships, hands, managements, leaderships, governments, reigns, rules, aegises, auspices, guardianships, protections, trusteeships, tutelages

Related Entry: Regulation (noun)

Regulation is a different word from Regulations. The synonyms below are for regulation, not for regulations.

  1. 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"

    similar: bylaw, ground rule, reg, rule
    related: code, constitution, decalogue, directory, act, law, ordinance, statute, behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, edict, fiat, instruction, order, axiom, fundamental, maxim, precept, moral, principle, value, ban, interdiction, prohibition, proscription, restriction, convention, custom, habit, manners, mores, practice, tradition, way, blueprint, canon, formula, guide, guideline, standard

  2. 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"

    similar: administration, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision
    related: generalship, leadership, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation, coadministration, codirection, comanagement

  3. 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"

    similar: care, charge, guidance, headship, oversight, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision, surveillance
    related: monitoring, observance, observation, observing, policing, administration, control, direction, generalship, hand(s), management, running, leadership, piloting, shepherding, steering, government, reign, rule, aegis, auspices, guardianship, protection, trusteeship, tutelage

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Regulations

The most common words with a similar meaning to Regulations:

bylaws, ground rules, regs, rules, administrations, care, charges, conducts, controls, directions, governances, governments, guidance, handlings, intendances, managements, operations, oversights, presidencies, stewardships, superintendences, superintendencies, supervisions, headships, surveillances

Related Words for Regulations

codes, constitutions, decalogues, directories, acts, laws, ordinances, statutes, behests, commandments, commands, decrees, dictates, directives, edicts, fiats, instructions, orders, axioms, fundamentals, maxims, precepts, morals, principles, values, bans, interdictions, prohibitions, proscriptions, restrictions

Word Forms of Regulations

Inflections: self-regulations

Derived words: reregulate (transitive verb)

Origin & Etymology of Regulations

Middle English reule, from Anglo-French, from Latin regula straightedge, rule, from regere to keep straight, direct right

First known use: 1611

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Regulations

Frequently Asked Questions about Regulations

What does "Regulations" mean?

"Regulations" means the act of regulating, the state of being regulated. As a noun, it is defined as: the act of regulating, the state of being regulated. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Regulations"?

Other words for "Regulations" include bylaws, ground rules, regs, rules, administrations, care, charges and conducts. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Regulations" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Regulations"?

There are 92 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Regulations". Common alternatives include bylaws, ground rules, regs, rules, administrations, care, charges, conducts, controls and directions.

How do you use "Regulations" in a sentence?

Examples of "Regulations" in a sentence: "it's against community regulations to leave your trash on the curb for more than two days"; "the owner seldom visited the plant and did not take an active part in the regulation of the company"; "the regulation of the soccer team was left entirely to the head coach and her assistants".

Is "Regulations" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Regulations" is a noun.

Is "Regulations" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Regulations"?

"Regulations" is pronounced /ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən/ as a noun, /(ˌ)rē-ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən/ as a noun, /ˈrül/ as a noun and /ˌself-ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən/ as a noun and divided into syllables as reg·u·la·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Regulations"?

"Regulations" comes from Middle English reule, from Anglo-French, from Latin regula straightedge, rule, from regere to keep straight, direct right. First known use: 1611.