self-regulate

verb

self-reg·​u·​late ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 

 also  -ˈrā-

self-regulated; self-regulating; self-regulates

1

intransitive : to regulate oneself or itself

allowing markets to self-regulate

… noted the overwhelming lack of public trust in the financial services industry's ability to self-regulate effectively …

—Sally Rose

The idea is that the kids learn how to manage and self-regulate.

—Cheyenne Derksen Schroeder

2

transitive : to control or govern (something) for or by oneself

… was hired by the motion picture industry to head up a new body to self-regulate the movies.

—Katharine Monk

the ability of the child to self-regulate her behavior

… a horse who is permitted to self-regulate his intake will eat only what his body needs.

—Juliet M. Getty

self-regulative

ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiv 

 also  -ˈrā-

adjective

self-regulative processes

Examples of self-regulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Greenfield believes the burden cannot be on kids to self-regulate their social media use. —Aria Young, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2024

Although the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Protocol on Environmental Protection set regulations for tourism organizers, day-to-day management remains self-regulated, and some travel groups have been accused of greenwashing their efforts. —Annabel Illingworth, TIME, 25 July 2024

The beloved Australian marsupials are dying from rampant chlamydia, a naturally occurring disease in koalas that helps them self-regulate their population. —Elizabeth Warkentin, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2024

Developed by the British scientist James Lovelock and the American biologist Lynn Margulis, the Gaia hypothesis characterizes Earth as a giant, living, self-regulating entity. —Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 2