2
: a worker or a machine that rules paper
3
: a smooth-edged strip (as of wood or metal) that is usually marked off in units (such as inches) and is used as a straightedge or for measuring
Examples of ruler in a Sentence
a summit attended by a number of rulers from around the world
This ruler shows inches and centimeters.
Recent Examples on the Web
August was all about preparing for the return to school, with popular grocery items including colored pencils, ring binders, index cards, as well as rulers, notebooks, and calculators.
—
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 June 2025
Responding to persecution by India’s Mughal rulers—and the torture and execution of his father—Hargobind militarized Sikhism.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
More importantly, with the sun (your celestial ruler) swimming through Cancer and the depths of your sleepy 12th house of rest, surrender and privacy, you’re likely feeling called to go inward and retreat into your personal sanctuary.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 June 2025
His most famous work, The Prince, offered pragmatic, and often controversial, advice to rulers on how to maintain power.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruler
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.
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 June 2025
Responding to persecution by India’s Mughal rulers—and the torture and execution of his father—Hargobind militarized Sikhism.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
More importantly, with the sun (your celestial ruler) swimming through Cancer and the depths of your sleepy 12th house of rest, surrender and privacy, you’re likely feeling called to go inward and retreat into your personal sanctuary.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 June 2025
His most famous work, The Prince, offered pragmatic, and often controversial, advice to rulers on how to maintain power.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruler
Cite this Entry
“Ruler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruler. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ruler
noun
rul·er
ˈrü-lər 
2
: a straight strip of material (as wood or metal) marked off in units and used as a guide in drawing lines or for measuring
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share