gag rule
noun
US
: a rule saying that people are not allowed to speak freely or express their opinions about a particular subject
The law prohibits insurance companies from imposing gag rules that limit communication between doctors and their patients.
Examples of gag rule in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Advertisement In this new era of gag rule politics, some on the right have claimed that uncomfortable discussions about the history of slavery in the United States are meant to make white people feel bad about themselves—that whites today are somehow to blame.
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Time, 24 Sep. 2025
The gag rule has negatively affected global health care systems beyond family planning, according to a 2019 review of existing research on the policy.
—Maya Goldman, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
The policy, referred to as the global gag rule by reproductive rights groups, was first introduced during the second Reagan administration and has been rescinded by every Democratic president and reinstated by every Republican president since then.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 24 Jan. 2025
In his first term, with devastating effect, Trump expanded the domestic gag rule to include all U.S. global health assistance, not only family planning assistance, as the rule was applied during previous Republican administrations.
—Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2025
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Time, 24 Sep. 2025
The gag rule has negatively affected global health care systems beyond family planning, according to a 2019 review of existing research on the policy.
—Maya Goldman, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
The policy, referred to as the global gag rule by reproductive rights groups, was first introduced during the second Reagan administration and has been rescinded by every Democratic president and reinstated by every Republican president since then.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 24 Jan. 2025
In his first term, with devastating effect, Trump expanded the domestic gag rule to include all U.S. global health assistance, not only family planning assistance, as the rule was applied during previous Republican administrations.
—Lawrence O. Gostin, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gag rule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gag%20rule. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
gag rule
noun
: a law, order, or ruling that prohibits free debate or expression of ideas, information, or opinions
a long-standing Florida gag rule barring people from discussing complaints they made against police officers—National Law Journal
National Law Journal
specifically
: a rule limiting or prohibiting debate on an issue in a legislative assembly (as the U.S. House of Representatives)
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