Origin: Latin suffix -ular
Regular has 20 different meanings across 2 categories:
a soldier in the regular army
"The general ordered all reservists to stand down, leaving only the regulars to secure the border."
a garment size for persons of average height and weight
"The sales associate told me to try on the medium shirt since I'm a regular in that brand."
A member of the British Army (as opposed to a member of the Territorial Army or Reserve).
"After completing his National Service, he joined the regular army and was deployed to Northern Ireland."
In plain English: A regular is someone who frequently visits or uses a specific place or service.
"The regular is always on duty at the corner store during the day."
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
"his regular calls on his customers"
"regular meals"
"regular duties"
conforming to a standard or pattern
"following the regular procedure of the legislature"
"a regular electrical outlet"
regularly scheduled for fixed times
"at a regular meeting of the PTA"
"regular bus departures"
in accord with regular practice or procedure
"took his regular morning walk"
"her regular bedtime"
(used of the military) belonging to or engaged in by legitimate army forces
"the regular army"
(of solids) having clear dimensions that can be measured; volume can be determined with a suitable geometric formula
"The engineer calculated the material's density by measuring the regular block, knowing its exact length, width, and height allowed for a precise volume determination."
not constipated
"After drinking plenty of water and eating more fiber, my regular bowel movements finally returned after a week-long bout of constipation."
Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular).
"The regular monks in the abbey followed a strict daily schedule of prayer and work that differed greatly from the nearby secular clergy."
In plain English: Regular means something that happens at the same time every day or follows a predictable pattern.
"She goes to the gym three times a week on a regular basis."
Usage: Use this adjective specifically when referring to members of a monastery who follow strict vows, distinguishing them from laypeople. It is often paired with "secular" in phrases like "regular clergy."
Regularly, on a regular basis.
"We try to visit our grandparents regularly every Sunday afternoon."
In plain English: Regularly means doing something at the same time every day or on a set schedule without missing any days.
"He eats at the same restaurant every day on a regular basis."
The word "regular" comes from the Latin rēgula, meaning "rule," and originally described something that continued to follow rules for guidance. It entered English through Middle French and Anglo-Norman, carrying its sense of conformity to a standard or pattern.