self-regulatory

adjective

self-reg·​u·​la·​to·​ry ˌself-ˈre-gyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce self-regulatory (audio)
 also  -ˈrā-
: serving or tending to regulate oneself or itself
a self-regulatory industry
… the ABA [American Bar Association] worries that perhaps lawyers will lose a measure of self-regulatory power.The National Law Journal

Examples of self-regulatory 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.
Amid this shift, trade associations are stepping into a more prominent role, championing self-regulatory models that offer both flexibility and accountability. Eric Reicin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Despite its frequent finger-wagging, the ASA is a non-statutory, self-regulatory organization that cannot interpret or enforce legislation in the U.K. Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025 The Code, a set of self-regulatory guidelines applied to film production, was begrudgingly accepted by film execs, writes Steven Vaughn. Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2025 Any self-regulatory effort will face this same problem. Emma Llansó, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-regulatory was in 1875

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Cite this Entry

“Self-regulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-regulatory. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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