self-regulation
noun
self-reg·u·la·tion
ˌself-ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən 
-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-regulations … —
Kevin Plummer
Kevin 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
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
Playtime is about more than just having fun; it has been found to be critical for a child's development of social-emotional wellbeing along with cognitive and self-regulation skills, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Avoid screens during key routines—wake-up, mealtime, and bedtime—when self-regulation skills are still developing.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 4 Mar. 2025
But that’s not the issue: The issue is the complex relationship in the U.S. aviation industry between accountability and self-regulation.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Researchers at Aston University and the University of Leipzig report that workaholism can interfere with moral self-regulation and subsequent ethical behaviour, particularly in organizations that prioritize bottom-line results and self-interest.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-regulation
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Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Avoid screens during key routines—wake-up, mealtime, and bedtime—when self-regulation skills are still developing.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 4 Mar. 2025
But that’s not the issue: The issue is the complex relationship in the U.S. aviation industry between accountability and self-regulation.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Researchers at Aston University and the University of Leipzig report that workaholism can interfere with moral self-regulation and subsequent ethical behaviour, particularly in organizations that prioritize bottom-line results and self-interest.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-regulation
Cite this Entry
“Self-regulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-regulation. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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