: 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
Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Of 276 opinions in which there was a ruling on the first factor, there were only five where that did not align with the outcome.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 12 May 2025
The Chinese Communist Party holds regular exchanges with numerous ruling African political parties.
—Grant T. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for ruling
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.
Noun
In exchange for a deal allowing smoother trade in food products, Britain could agree to align its standards with Europe, change relevant laws when Brussels does and accept rulings from the European Court of Justice, the bloc’s top legal authority.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Of 276 opinions in which there was a ruling on the first factor, there were only five where that did not align with the outcome.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Adjective
The governor and her husband are both members of the ruling Morena party.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 12 May 2025
The Chinese Communist Party holds regular exchanges with numerous ruling African political parties.
—Grant T. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruling. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share