self-regulation

noun

self-reg·​u·​la·​tion ˌself-ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce self-regulation (audio)
-ˌre-gə-,
 also  -ˌrā-
plural self-regulations
: the act or condition or an instance of regulating oneself or itself: such as
a
: control or supervision from within instead of by an external authority
the online marketing industry's self-regulation of consumer privacy protections
also : a rule imposed in self-regulation
Banks were left to largely manage themselves, and establish industry-wide self-regulationsKevin Plummer
According to the Federal Trade Commission, food marketing cannot be false, deceptive or unfair. But there are other, more specific, self-regulations out there for ads related to kids. Alexandra Sifferlin
b
: the bringing of oneself or itself into a state of order, method, or uniformity
self-regulation of an ecosystem
emotional self-regulation

Examples of self-regulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
King recommends a simple one-minute self-regulation exercise. Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025 Moderation The robotics community can implement self-regulation mechanisms to moderate the diffusion of high-risk material. Ludovic Righetti, IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2025 However, self-regulation is only one side of the coin. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025 Sperry said toy offerings can serve multiple functions: a social gesture to reinforce bonding, a play solicitation, or even a form of self-regulation during moments of high excitement or stress. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-regulation

Word History

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-regulation was in 1698

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Cite this Entry

“Self-regulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-regulation. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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