unregulated

adjective

un·​reg·​u·​lat·​ed ˌən-ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-təd How to pronounce unregulated (audio)
also -ˈrā-
Synonyms of unregulatednext
: not regulated: such as
a
: disorderly, chaotic
unregulated habits
an unregulated mind
b
: not controlled by regulation
unregulated fishing
an unregulated industry

Examples of unregulated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When even an unregulated utterance can end a life, and when such utterances are made to go unwitnessed, what remains? — Abdelrahman Elgendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026 Fuelled in part by the overprescription of painkillers like OxyContin in the 1990s, the market for unregulated substitutes exploded into what became regarded as an epidemic by the turn of the millennium. — New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026 The legislation follows testimony from city officials and residents who said some smoke shops sell untested, unregulated and dangerous products, including to children. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 With their rhetoric, the companies appear to be seeking public favor and to set the terms for their own safety protocols in the unregulated market, experts, analysts and former government evaluators told the Associated Press. — Garance Burke, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unregulated

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unregulated was circa 1623

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unregulated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unregulated. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on unregulated

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!