regulation

The word “regulation” means an official rule issued by an authority to control how something is done. In plain terms, an official rule, or the process of setting and enforcing rules.

“Regulation” is pronounced rehg-yuu-LAY-shuhn (/ˌɹɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “regulation” used in a sentence: “New safety regulations require all workers to wear helmets on site.”

Depending on how it is used, “regulation” can be a noun and an adjective.

“Regulation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Regulation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an official rule issued by an authority to control how something is done.

A law is typically passed by a legislature, while a regulation is an official rule issued by an authority, such as a government agency, to control how something is done in practice. Regulations usually spell out the detailed requirements needed to apply a law. In everyday use, both are binding, but a regulation is narrower and more administrative.

A rule is any instruction about what is or is not allowed, and it can come from anyone, including a school, a game, or a household. A regulation is specifically an official rule issued by an authority, so it carries formal or legal weight. All regulations are rules, but not all rules are regulations.

Regulation is both. It is countable when it refers to a specific official rule, as in "a new safety regulation" or "the regulations require a permit." It is uncountable when it refers to the process of controlling something through rules, as in "government regulation of the banking industry."

The most common patterns are comply with regulations, follow regulations, violate or breach regulations, and introduce or enforce regulations. When talking about the process sense, people speak of tightening, easing, or relaxing regulation. Something governed by rules is said to be "subject to regulation" or "under regulation."