regulator

noun

reg·​u·​la·​tor ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tər 

 also  ˈrā-

1

: one that regulates

2

: regulatory gene

Synonyms

• controller
• control

Examples of regulator in a Sentence

the voltage regulator will make sure your car's alternator gets the right amount of electricity

Recent Examples on the Web

The leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, the person who is second in the presidential line of succession, has been accused of illegally paying rent to East County Rep. Darrell Issa from campaign cash, two complaints filed with federal regulators show. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025

As part of the merger approval process, Neal said regulators must require Duke Energy to invest in energy efficiency to reduce waste and help customers save money on bills. —Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025

Covering everything from environmental safety and wildfire risk to sites of archaeological significance , Oregon’s law requires developers to follow many of the same steps federal regulators require. —Tony Schick, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2025

This is exactly the kind of case federal regulators have been backing away from. —Aj Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing regulator

• growth regulator
• regulator gene

Rhymes for regulator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Medical Definition

regulator

noun

reg·​u·​la·​tor ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt-ər 

1

: one that regulates

2

: regulatory gene

Legal Definition

regulator

noun

reg·​u·​la·​tor ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tər 

: one (as a government agency) that regulates