English Reference
adjective

regulated

adj.
US /ˈɹɛɡjəˌɫeɪtɪd/ UK /ɹˈɛɡjuːlˌeɪtɪd/ reg·u·lat·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    controlled or managed by a set of official rules or laws.

    governed by formal regulations, typically by a government or official body to ensure safety, fairness, or standardisation.

    Simple

    The banking industry is highly regulated to prevent another financial crisis.

    In context

    In a strictly regulated market, companies must adhere to rigorous transparency standards or face significant legal penalties.

    Usage

    often used to describe industries like finance, medicine, or energy.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners often confuse this with 'regular'; clarify that 'regulated' implies external control, while 'regular' implies a pattern.

The insects were exposed to gases containing several PFAS compounds, including PFOS, one of the most common and heavily regulated PFAS chemicals found in the environment.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

First, the drugs involved are highly regulated, making research and development more difficult.

ScienceDaily· 13 Jun 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated