Adjective

regulation (not comparable)

Positive regulation

Comparative not comparable

Superlative none (absolute)

1. Of or pertaining to a regulation or rules.

   The regulation rules of baseball.

2. In conformity with applicable rules and regulations.
   • 1969, Thomas Wiseman, The Quick and the Dead, page 328:

     It is regulation that these directives are to be destroyed on receipt.

   • 2004, Marc Miller, The Kettles and the Keeps: Ghosts at War, page 88:

     "The hat is regulation as well, I assume."

   • 2007, Jim Butcher, Captain's Fury, page 48:

     It is the responsibility of every legionare to be sure that he is regulation height as well.

Regulation refers to "controlling human or societal behaviour by rules or restrictions." Regulation can take many forms: legal restrictions promulgated by a government authority, self-regulation, social regulation (e.g. norms), co-regulation and market regulation. One can consider regulation as actions of conduct imposing sanctions (such as a fine). This action of administrative law, or implementing regulatory law, may be contrasted with statutory or case law.

Regulation mandated by a state attempts to produce outcomes which might not otherwise occur, produce or prevent outcomes in different places to what might otherwise occur, or produce or prevent outcomes in different timescales than would otherwise occur. Common examples of regulation include attempts to control market entries, prices, wages, pollution effects, employment for certain people in certain industries, standards of production for certain goods, the military forces and services. The economics of imposing or removing regulations relating to markets is analysed in regulatory economics.