I. reg ‧ u ‧ la ‧ tion 1 S2 W2 AC /ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃ ə n, ˌreɡjʊˈleɪʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ regulation , ↑ regulator ; verb : ↑ regulate ; adjective : ↑ regulatory ]
1 . [countable] an official rule or order:
There seem to be so many rules and regulations these days.
regulation on
new regulations on imports
regulations governing the safety of toys
building/planning/fire/health regulations
The local authority is introducing new planning regulations.
All companies must comply with the regulations.
under ... regulations
Under the new regulations, all staff must have safety training.
2 . [uncountable] control over something, especially by rules
regulation of
the regulation of public spending
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + regulations
▪ strict/stringent/tough
The regulations surrounding the handling of nuclear waste are very strict.
▪ safety regulations
Every railway has complex safety regulations.
▪ government/federal regulations
Small businessman are fed up with government regulations.
▪ building regulations (=relating to the structure of buildings)
The Building Regulations no longer specify minimum ceiling heights.
▪ environmental regulations
The Bill stipulated some of the toughest environmental regulations yet seen in the industrial world.
▪ planning regulations (=relating to what buildings can be built in an area)
The house must be demolished because it does not conform to planning regulations.
▪ hygiene regulations (=relating to keeping restaurants, hotel kitchens etc clean)
Hygiene regulations stipulate that the caterer must use suitable equipment.
▪ statutory regulations (=that are fixed or controlled by law)
All government bodies are bound by statutory regulations on, for instance, race and sex discrimination.
■ verbs
▪ comply with/meet/conform to regulations
Hotel kitchens must comply with these regulations.
▪ break regulations
The penalties for breaking the regulations were severe.
▪ make regulations
The Secretary of State can make safety regulations governing the making of goods.
▪ tighten regulations (=make them stricter)
The President is expected to announce new efforts to tighten gun-control regulations.
▪ relax regulations (=make them less strict)
He has voted in favor of relaxing environmental regulations.
▪ regulations apply to something
The regulations also apply to new buildings.
▪ regulations govern something (=apply to something)
There are regulations governing the safety of toys.
▪ regulations stipulate something (=state what must be done)
The hospital regulations stipulate minimum staffing levels.
■ phrases
▪ rules and regulations
We must reduce the number of rules and regulations.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rule an instruction that says what people are allowed to do or not allowed to do, for example in a game, school, or company:
the rules of baseball
|
He disobeyed the school rules.
▪ law an official rule that everyone in a country, city, or state must obey:
It is against the law to carry a concealed weapon.
|
The law requires motorcyclists to wear helmets.
▪ regulation an official rule or order, which is part of a set of rules made by a government or organization:
the regulations for applying for a passport
|
building regulations
|
environmental regulations on air pollution
▪ restriction an official rule that limits what people can do:
new restrictions on immigration
|
The government is planning to impose regulations on the amount of alcohol you can bring into the country.
▪ guidelines rules or instructions about the best way to do something:
the Department of Health’s guidelines for a healthy diet
|
guidelines for classroom teachers
▪ code a set of rules that people or organizations agree to obey but are not forced to obey:
The school has a dress code for its students.
|
the company’s code of conduct
▪ statute formal a law that has been officially approved by a parliament, council etc, and written down:
The statute banned corporal punishment.
▪ ordinance American English a law, made by a city or town, that forbids or restricts an activity:
A local ordinance limited speed in the parks to ten miles an hour.
II. regulation 2 BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
used or worn because of official rules:
The girls were all wearing regulation shoes.