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Definition of regulatory

regulatory

/ˈɹɛɡ.jə.ləˌtɔː.ɹi/
reg · u · la · to · ry
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regulatory Lexical Profile

regulatory Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Serving or intended to regulate, control, or govern an activity, industry, or process according to official rules or laws.

Example

"The pharmaceutical company must obtain approval from the regulatory agency before marketing the new medication."

2

Relating to a biological mechanism, gene, or molecule that controls the rate or expression of physiological and genetic processes.

Example

"Mutations in regulatory sequences of DNA can significantly alter how proteins are produced in the cell."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for regulatory

• Nearby Words

regulate
regulation
regulator
regulatory
regurgitate
regurgitation
rehab

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 17th century from the verb 'regulate' plus the suffix '-ory', tracing back to the Late Latin 'regulatus', from 'regula' meaning 'rule' or 'straight piece of wood'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Regulatory. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/regulatory
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