self-regulate

verb

self-reg·​u·​late ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 

 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 

 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

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Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 2