unregulated

adjective un·reg·u·lat·ed \ ˌən-ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-təd also -ˈrā- \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of unregulated

: not regulated: such as

a : disorderly, chaotic

unregulated habits

an unregulated mind

b : not controlled by regulation

unregulated fishing

an unregulated industry

See unregulated defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unregulated from the Web

The product is an unregulated mechanical vape pen, according to ABC Action News.

— alexia fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Florida TV Producer Dies After Being Hit By Shrapnel & Severely Burnt When His Vape Pen Exploded," 16 May 2018
In addition, thousands of older, more dangerous buses are in the hands of churches and other private groups — their operation unregulated, their maintenance unmonitored and their hazards unknown to their passengers.

— The Courier-Journal, "Archives: 1988 reports on bus safety after the Carrollton crash," 14 May 2018
According to state law, possible betting venues, which include racetracks and casinos, could begin accepting unregulated bets as soon as Monday, though gearing up to do so could realistically take time.

— nick corasaniti, New York Times, "A Sports Gambling Ban Was Overturned, but Can You Bet on Tonight’s Game?," 14 May 2018
But the market is opaque, unregulated and sometimes extremely illiquid.

— frederik balfour, Bloomberg.com, "Top Collectors Reveal the Secrets of How to Invest in Art," 7 May 2018
The smoke from frat boy cigars, unregulated cigarettes and a few furtive reefers rose to the rafters.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "Jazz Fest 2018: Thinking of Charles Neville," 6 May 2018
Who ensures that customers have electricity if an unregulated or lightly regulated power provider — say, a company that runs power plants and sells directly to businesses — goes bankrupt?

— david r. baker, San Francisco Chronicle, "California’s power grid is changing fast, and ‘we don’t have a plan’," 3 May 2018
After all, while there are certainly companies out there making smart choices for human health and the environment, the beauty and personal-care industries—and the chemicals used in their products—remain mostly unregulated.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "Your Beauty Products May Contribute to Rush-Hour Pollution Just As Much as Car Exhaust," 2 May 2018
The case against Wince offers a glimpse into the problem of unregulated firearms sales in America at a time of fierce national debate over gun control.

— scott bronstein, CNN, "Cop convicted of illegal gun dealing sold weapon used in murder," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unregulated.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unregulated

circa 1623

in the meaning defined above

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