overregulate
|o/ver/reg/u/late|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌoʊvərˈrɛɡjəˌleɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˌəʊvəˈrɛɡjʊleɪt/
excessive control
Etymology
Etymology Information
'overregulate' originates from the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessive' and the verb 'regulate' from Latin 'regulare', meaning 'to control or direct'.
Historical Evolution
'regulare' transformed into the Old French word 'reguler', and eventually became the modern English word 'regulate'. The prefix 'over-' was added to form 'overregulate'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'regulate' meant 'to control or direct', and with the prefix 'over-', it evolved to mean 'to control excessively'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to impose excessive regulations on a particular activity or sector.
The government tends to overregulate the financial industry.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/03/04 03:51