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
Doing some simple mindful breathing is also a good way to model self-regulation for your child, Todd adds.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 3 Apr. 2026
Remember that better self-regulation is about making small, sustainable changes that fit with your daily life.
—Laura E. Knouse, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The destabilization of the pandemic and its social and cultural isolation drove folks of all ages and backgrounds to discover new tools for self-regulation.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Holding back a child can be a good option to allow children extra time to develop self-control and self-regulation skills vital for the classroom, said Stanford professor Thomas Dee, who has studied red-shirting.
—Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-regulation
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wendy Wisner, Parents, 3 Apr. 2026
Remember that better self-regulation is about making small, sustainable changes that fit with your daily life.
—Laura E. Knouse, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The destabilization of the pandemic and its social and cultural isolation drove folks of all ages and backgrounds to discover new tools for self-regulation.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Holding back a child can be a good option to allow children extra time to develop self-control and self-regulation skills vital for the classroom, said Stanford professor Thomas Dee, who has studied red-shirting.
—Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
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 8 Apr. 2026.
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