English Reference
Adjective

regulatory

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US /ˈɹɛɡjəɫəˌtɔɹi/ UK /ɹˌɛɡjuːlˈeɪtəɹˌi/ reg·u·la·to·ry

adj.relating to official rules and the people who make them. You use this to describe things that control how a business or activity must behave.

adj.relating to the management or control of an activity, process, or industry by a set of rules or laws. Often used in legal, financial, or governmental contexts.


SIMPLE

The company must follow all regulatory requirements.

CONTEXTUAL

The bank faced heavy fines after failing to meet the new regulatory standards for data protection.

COMPLEX

Navigating the complex regulatory landscape of international trade requires a deep understanding of both local statutes and global treaties to avoid costly litigation.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies; frequently collocates with 'body', 'framework', or 'compliance'.

Bet365 takes its legal and regulatory responsibilities very seriously and was shocked and embarrassed to learn that its branding had been used in this way.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

The Charity Commission will aim to establish the amount of charitable funds going to illegal settlements, whether the spending was in furtherance of their purposes and any regulatory action that may be necessary.

The Guardian· 4 Aug 2026

Common in science writing

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated