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
In short, children who play Simon Says have to practice important cognitive skills, such as attention, listening, language, comprehension, self-regulation, following directions, decision-making, and more.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2025
Weakened self-regulation and well-being.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The Las Vegas formula of maximalism—24/7 noise, crowds, queues, and constant spend—clashes with a mood that prizes sleep, space, and self-regulation.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
For example, some parents may wonder if these behaviors are related to things like stimming (repetitive movement or sounds), echolalia (meaningless repetition of words), or self-regulation behaviors.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-regulation
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Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2025
Weakened self-regulation and well-being.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The Las Vegas formula of maximalism—24/7 noise, crowds, queues, and constant spend—clashes with a mood that prizes sleep, space, and self-regulation.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
For example, some parents may wonder if these behaviors are related to things like stimming (repetitive movement or sounds), echolalia (meaningless repetition of words), or self-regulation behaviors.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 8 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 2025.
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