self-regulate

verb

self-reg·​u·​late ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce self-regulate (audio)
 also  -ˈrā-
self-regulated; self-regulating; self-regulates
1
intransitive : to regulate oneself or itself
allowing markets to self-regulate
… noted the overwhelming lack of public trust in the financial services industry's ability to self-regulate effectively …Sally Rose
The idea is that the kids learn how to manage and self-regulate.Cheyenne Derksen Schroeder
2
transitive : to control or govern (something) for or by oneself
… was hired by the motion picture industry to head up a new body to self-regulate the movies.Katharine Monk
the ability of the child to self-regulate her behavior
… a horse who is permitted to self-regulate his intake will eat only what his body needs.Juliet M. Getty
self-regulative
ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiv How to pronounce self-regulate (audio)
 also  -ˈrā-
adjective
self-regulative processes

Examples of self-regulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But otherwise how firms self-regulate varies widely. Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 21 Nov. 2023 In recent weeks, talks have hit stumbling blocks over the extent to which companies should be allowed to self-regulate. Reuters, Fortune Europe, 21 Nov. 2023 The voluntary market is entirely self-regulated and has been repeatedly criticized for its lack of project quality and reliability. Jessica F. Green, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2023 Instagram Stories The states’ final allegation is that if young users attempt to self-regulate their social media usage, Meta discourages them with features that keep them addicted. WIRED, 24 Oct. 2023 Both then and in past remarks, Roberts has emphasized letting the court self-regulate instead of allowing another branch to step in. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2023 The rate stabilized thereafter despite the increasing availability and effectiveness of guns, oscillating around that homeostatic equilibrium, a self-regulating process that maintains its stability while adjusting to changing outside conditions. Theodore Modis, Scientific American, 28 Aug. 2023 Explore what happens inside the brain during times of stress and how to self-regulate your brain and bodily states. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2023 Being very young or old, or having an underlying health condition such as heart disease or poor circulation, can also affect your body's ability to self-regulate, says the CDC. NBC News, 16 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-regulate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-regulate was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near self-regulate

Cite this Entry

“Self-regulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-regulate. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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