regulation
REG-yoo-LAY-shun
/ˌrɛɡjuˈleɪʃən/
A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.
In the GMO world, this refers to the legal hurdles and safety checks required before a product hits the market.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'regula,' meaning a 'straight stick' or 'ruler.' It implies keeping things 'straight' or in line with established standards.
Word relationships
- statute: A statute is a written law passed by a legislative body; regulation is often the specific rule created by an agency to enforce that law.
- deregulation: The removal of rules and restrictions.
Commonly confused with
- legislation: Legislation is the process of making laws; regulation is the specific rule resulting from that process.
Word family
- regulate (verb): To control or maintain the rate or speed of a machine or process.
- regulatory (adjective): Serving or intended to regulate something.
Collocations
- government regulation
- strict regulation
- safety regulation
Example sentences
- "New government regulation requires all genetically modified foods to be clearly labeled for consumers." Government policy announcement.
- "Strict regulation is necessary to ensure that synthetic organisms do not escape into the wild." Scientific ethics debate.
Memory hook
Regulation keeps things 'Regular' and safe. The rules of the game.
When not to use
Not to be confused with 'guidelines,' which are often optional; regulations are mandatory.
Fun facts
- The first GMO regulation in the US was established in 1986 under the Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology.
Explore more words
regulatory, compliance, govern, ordinance, deregulation, comply
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