self-regulate

[ self-reg-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used with or without object)

, self-reg·u·lat·ed, self-reg·u·lat·ing.

1. to make necessary adjustments automatically or by means of built-in or internal mechanisms:

   She argued that state interventions do not allow the market to self-regulate through its own feedback loops.

   Our focus will be on finding ways to allow electronic systems to self-regulate the amount of energy they use.

2. to govern oneself by voluntarily creating and following one’s own rules or guidelines, as for a particular area of oversight:

   The transport agency is cracking down after years of relying on trucking companies to self-regulate their safety standards.

3. Psychology. to monitor and cope with one’s emotions, physical states, thoughts, and behavior in healthy, socially acceptable ways:

   We teach parents strategies to help their children learn to self-regulate.

   Eventually he began to self-regulate his feelings of anxiety and take more risks.

Other Words From

• self-reg·u·lat·ed adjective
• self-reg·u·lat·ing adjective
• self-reg·u·la·tion [self-regy, uh, -, ley, sh, uh, n], noun
• self-reg·u·lat·ive [self-, reg, -y, uh, -ley-tiv, -y, uh, -l, uh, -tiv], adjective
• self-reg·u·la·to·ry [self-, reg, -y, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-regulate¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

When I’m in a bad mood or bored or lonely or tired, it’s hard for me to self-regulate without food.

From Los Angeles Times

The authors of the report - the University of Bristol business school, funded by a grant from the charity Gamble Aware - has called the industry's attempt to self-regulate "wholly inadequate and tokenistic".

From BBC

"It’s clear that the industry's attempt to self-regulate is wholly inadequate and tokenistic. Despite having had years to put in place effective measures to protect consumers, the gambling industry continues to prioritise profit over safety."

From BBC

When I’m in a bad mood or bored or lonely or tired, it’s hard for me to self-regulate without food.

From Los Angeles Times

"They're letting the tech industry self-regulate instead of coming up with actual regulations."

From BBC