deregulate

American  

[dee-reg-yuh-leyt] / diˈrɛg yəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

deregulated, deregulating

1. to remove government regulatory controls from (an industry, a commodity, etc.).

   to deregulate the trucking industry; to deregulate oil prices.

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verb (used without object)

deregulated, deregulating

1. to undergo deregulation.

   Some banks have already started to deregulate.

deregulate British  

/ diːˈrɛɡjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to remove regulations or controls from

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Other Word Forms

• deregulation noun
• deregulator noun
• deregulatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of deregulate

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65; de- + regulate

Explanation

Deregulate is a verb that means to take away the rules. When someone deregulates a soccer game, the game could become a muddy wrestling match without any rules to keep things on track. You’ll notice the word regulate at the end of deregulate. Regulate is also a verb, and it means to “control something by rules.” To deregulate something, you take away the rules. If you deregulate a game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey at your little sister’s birthday party, you could end up with a tail on your face.

Example Sentences

Milei moved quickly once in office, signing dozens of decrees to shrink and deregulate the state in one of the most rapid budget turnarounds in the history of emerging markets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

In the 1990s and early 2000s, about half of U.S. states chose to deregulate their electricity markets, taking electricity generation out of the hands of monopoly utilities.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

The White House said Trump is committed to making “American leadership in space great again,” noting his first-term push to return U.S. astronauts to the moon and his efforts to deregulate the U.S. space industry.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 20, 2025

Singh led the initiative to deregulate the economy to avoid its collapse, which he argued was otherwise imminent.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2024

To meet increased   competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria   will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy,   continue to deregulate the service sector, and lower its tax burden.

From The 2003 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency