Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Regulation has 9 different meanings across 2 categories:
an authoritative rule
"The new safety regulation requires all employees to wear high-visibility vests while working on the construction site."
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
"it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"
"short haircuts were the regulation"
the state of being controlled or governed
"The sudden drop in oil prices was a direct result of new government regulations on drilling permits."
(embryology) the ability of an early embryo to continue normal development after its structure has been somehow damaged or altered
"The researcher was surprised that the tadpole's spine, which had been surgically removed during a critical stage, still regenerated perfectly thanks to the tissue's remarkable regulation."
the act of bringing to uniformity; making regular
"After months of irregular shifts, the new manager implemented a strict regulation that synchronized everyone's start and end times."
the act of controlling or directing according to rule
"fiscal regulations are in the hands of politicians"
The act of regulating or the condition of being regulated.
"After months of waiting, the new flight regulation finally took effect on Monday morning."
In plain English: A regulation is an official rule made by a government or organization to control how things are done.
"The new regulation requires all drivers to wear seatbelts."
In conformity with applicable rules and regulations.
"After months of delays, the factory finally resumed operations in full regulation with all new safety standards."
In plain English: Regulation means something that is controlled by rules or standards to make sure it works properly.
"The safety regulation standards for this new toy are much stricter than before."
Usage: Use this adjective to describe actions or items that strictly follow established laws, such as safety-regulated equipment. It is often paired with verbs like comply or adhere when emphasizing legal adherence rather than general fairness.
The word regulation comes from the Latin verb regulare, meaning to rule or direct, combined with the suffix -ion that indicates an action or result. It entered English as a noun describing the act of controlling something according to established rules.