self-regulatory

adjective

self-reg·​u·​la·​to·​ry ˌself-ˈre-gyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

also -ˈrā-

: serving or tending to regulate oneself or itself

a self-regulatory industry

… the ABA [American Bar Association] worries that perhaps lawyers will lose a measure of self-regulatory power.

—The National Law Journal

Examples of self-regulatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The probe, which comes one day after top tech leaders signed a self-regulatory AI accord at the White House, could compel tech CEOs to testify before Congress. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Critical thinking is based on the need for a deliberate, slow, self-regulatory pause. — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

In almost all of these arenas, the NIH has championed self-regulatory systems in which researchers design and enforce policy alongside the government. — Doni Bloomfield, STAT, 21 July 2026

The committee’s mandate, however, is to pursue a self-regulatory accord rather than hold out for a legislative solution. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-regulatory

• adjudicatory
• anticipatory
• articulatory
• classificatory
• conciliatory
• congratulatory
• discriminatory
• ejaculatory
• emancipatory
• hallucinatory
• interlaboratory
• interrogatory