Regulation vs. Regulatory — What's the Difference?

Regulation is the management of complex systems according to a set of rules and trends. In systems theory, these types of rules exist in various fields of biology and society, but the term has slightly different meanings according to context.

To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.

A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority

To adjust to a particular specification or requirement

The action or process of regulating or being regulated

To adjust (a mechanism) for accurate and proper functioning.

The act of regulating or the state of being regulated.

To put or maintain in order

A principle, rule, or law designed to control or govern conduct.

Of or pertaining to regulation.

A governmental order having the force of law. Also called executive order.

Restricting according to rules or principles;

(Embryology) The capacity of an embryo to continue normal development following injury to or alteration of a structure.

(Sports) The standard playing period for a timed game, prior to overtime or a shootout.

(uncountable) The act of regulating or the condition of being regulated.

(countable) A law or administrative rule, issued by an organization, used to guide or prescribe the conduct of members of that organization.

A type of law made by the executive branch of government, usually by virtue of a statute made by the legislative branch giving the executive the authority to do so.

A numbered provision within such kind of law.

(European Union law) A form of legislative act which is self-effecting, and requires no further intervention by the Member States to become law.

(genetics) Mechanism controlling DNA transcription.

(medicine) Physiological process which consists in maintaining homoeostasis.

In conformity with applicable rules and regulations.

The act of regulating, or the state of being regulated.

A rule or order prescribed for management or government; prescription; a regulating principle; a governing direction; precept; law; as, the regulations of a society or a school.

An authoritative rule

A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior;

The state of being controlled or governed

(embryology) the ability of an early embryo to continue normal development after its structure has been somehow damaged or altered

The act of bringing to uniformity; making regular

The act of controlling or directing according to rule;

Prescribed by or according to regulation;