Regulations
/ˌrɛɡjəˈleɪʃənz/
nounB2plural
Definition
Regulations are formal rules created by governments or organizations to guide behavior and actions. They are made to ensure safety, fairness, and order in society or specific industries. People and businesses must follow these rules to avoid problems or punishments.
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See It in Action
Official rules made by authorities to control behavior
- •The company must follow safety regulations to protect workers.
- •New regulations require all drivers to wear seat belts.
- •The school has regulations about when students can use phones.
Rules that organize how things work in a system or industry
- •Environmental regulations limit pollution from factories.
- •Banking regulations help keep money safe.
- •Food regulations ensure that what we eat is safe and healthy.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "regulations" like "rules" (A1 word), but rules made by important groups like governments or companies, not just friends or teachers
- ✓Picture a traffic light controlling cars so everyone drives safely and fairly
- ✓It's the feeling of knowing what you can and cannot do to stay safe and avoid trouble
- ✓Sounds like "reg-you-LAY-shuns" → imagine someone laying down laws that everyone must follow
- ✓Think of a referee in sports who makes sure players follow the game’s rules to keep the game fair
- ✓NOT like "suggestions" (which are ideas people can choose to follow), regulations must be followed by law or agreement
- ✓NOT like "laws" (laws are made by governments and are stronger), regulations can be rules made by smaller groups or organizations
- ✓NOT like "guidelines" (which are advice), regulations are official and often have penalties if broken
Try Other Words
- •Rules: instructions or directions for behavior (Use when talking about simple or informal instructions)
- •Laws: legal rules made by governments (Use when the rules have legal power and penalties)
- •Guidelines: advice or recommendations (Use when the instructions are suggestions, not required)
- •Policies: plans or principles set by organizations (Use when referring to internal decisions, not always legally binding)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "regulate" (to control or manage) + "-ion" (a noun suffix meaning the act or process) + "-s" (plural)
- •Etymology: From Latin "regula" meaning "rule" or "straight stick," which was used for measuring or guiding
- •Historical development: Originally meaning the act of controlling or directing, now used for official rules made by authorities
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for formal rules in business, law, government, and organizations to keep order and safety
Reflect & Connect
•How do regulations help keep people safe in everyday life? Can too many regulations be a problem?
•Think about a time when you had to follow regulations at school or work. How did they affect your actions?
Fill in the blanks
1.The government created new regulations to ___ pollution and protect the environment.
2.Workers must follow safety regulations to avoid ___ accidents or injuries.
3.Unlike suggestions, regulations are ___ and must be obeyed by law or agreement.
4.The company changed its policies to meet the new health and safety ___.
5.Regulations often come with ___ if people or businesses do not follow them.
6.Sometimes, regulations are stricter than simple ___ because they control important matters.
7.When a factory breaks environmental regulations, it can face ___ from the authorities.