: an official or authoritative decision, decree, statement, or interpretation (as by a judge on a point of law)
1
a
: exerting power or authority
the ruling party
b
: chief, predominating
a ruling passion
2
: generally prevailing
Examples of ruling in a Sentence
Noun
The decision overturns the Supreme Court's earlier ruling.
She disputed the referee's ruling.
Adjective
members of the ruling class
the ruling opinion on premarital sex
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
This ruling affirms core constitutional freedoms all Americans hold dear, including free speech, due process, and the right to select counsel without the fear of retribution.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
Grant T. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2018
Third, personalism of security forces weakens the power of other groups that might otherwise constrain the leader, such as elites in the ruling political party and even generals who oppose a leader’s power grab.
—Joe Wright, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruling
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Noun
On Saturday, however, the plans were thrown into doubt when an appeals court paused the earlier ruling that had prompted the return-to-work message.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
This ruling affirms core constitutional freedoms all Americans hold dear, including free speech, due process, and the right to select counsel without the fear of retribution.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
Adjective
The Chinese Communist Party holds regular exchanges with numerous ruling African political parties.
—Grant T. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2018
Third, personalism of security forces weakens the power of other groups that might otherwise constrain the leader, such as elites in the ruling political party and even generals who oppose a leader’s power grab.
—Joe Wright, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruling. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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