Is regulatory a formal word?

Yes. It is common in business, law, and government writing.

What is the difference between regulatory and regular?

Regulatory means related to rules or control. Regular means normal, usual, or happening often.

Can I say regulatory approval?

Yes. This is a very common phrase in business and legal English.

← Dictionary

regulatory

/ˈreɡ.jə.lə.tər.i/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Related to rules, laws, or official control. It describes things that are made, checked, or managed by a government or authority.

The company faced regulatory action.
We must meet regulatory standards.
Regulatory rules changed last year.

Adinary Nuance

Regulatory is not the same as regular or regulating. It usually describes rules, agencies, or checks that control an activity. In writing, it often sounds formal and is common in law, business, and government contexts. Choose it when you mean official control, not ordinary routine.

In other languages

Vietnamese: thuộc quy định
Spanish: regulatorio
Chinese: 监管的
Japanese: 規制の
Korean: 규제의

Etymology

Regulatory comes from regulate, from Latin regulare, meaning “to control by rule.” It entered English through legal and official language, especially in the 19th century.

Common phrases

regulatory approvalregulatory requirementsregulatory frameworkregulatory body

Synonyms

controlling supervisory official administrative

Frequently asked questions

Is regulatory a formal word?: Yes. It is common in business, law, and government writing.
What is the difference between regulatory and regular?: Regulatory means related to rules or control. Regular means normal, usual, or happening often.
Can I say regulatory approval?: Yes. This is a very common phrase in business and legal English.