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rule

rule

697 2.0
Control of a country by a person or group
  • noun
  • /ruːl/
: gobierno
  • Instead, the comments focused on the application of the rule to specific situations.
  • rule of law
  • majority rule
  • military rule

So in essence, you have this minority rule by design.

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Examples

  • As of this writing, all Michigan cities have home rule and enjoy a high degree of fiscal autonomy.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Always remember the golden rule.

  • It's a story of bringing new laws and new rules into the culture.

  • The first rule of fashion is you have to look weird.

  • Their leader said their hatred of Rome was such that all they wished was to escape from her rule.

  • Liberalism stressed the importance of the rule of law, limited government, and free commercial transactions.

    Academic text (2012)
  • We have new FTC rules that ban non compete agreements.

  • Back then, no one could have anticipated the rule's modern-day democratic ramifications.

    Academic text (2017)
  • How does the successful transition from authoritarian rule in Korea lead to consolidated democracy?

    Academic text (1999)
  • The teacher established a new rule for classroom behavior to promote respect among students.

Synonyms

government
vsrule
∞ 1.0

The group of people who officially run a country

refers to control as an abstract power or a period rather than the group
authority
vsrule
731 3.5

Power to give orders and make people obey

is the broader concept of control covering people, time, and systems
regime
vsrule
  • Literature
535 6.1

A government that rules a country, often not democratic and strict

is neutral control or a period of being in charge, not a system type
governance
vsrule
  • Specialized
83 5.6

How a country or organization is run and who makes decisions

is the simpler notion of control or a time when people are in charge
governing
vsrule
76 3.5

The act of controlling and directing a country, organization or group

is the overall state of control rather than the ongoing action
administration
vsrule
  • Formal
34 3.4

Carrying out laws and court decisions by officials

is the higher concept of control that includes authority and its duration
dominion
vsrule
  • Formal
24 7.7

Power to govern and control a territory or people

is a more general concept of control, not only legal territorial power
17 3.4

A group of people or organization that manages and sets rules for an institution

covers the idea of control beyond specific directing groups
rulership
vsrule
2 7.5

The time a leader has power over a country

is the general idea of control or a period of being in charge

Antonyms

438 3.1

A situation with no order where people are confused and cannot act normally

79 6.5

A situation with no government and much disorder

Idioms

28 2.8

Usually in most cases

3 6.3

To be in control of a group and make important decisions

to work to rule
  • Literature
7.5

Follow rules exactly to make tasks slower as a protest

Compounds

rule of law
  • Formal
89 3.7

All people and organizations, including officials, must follow the same fair laws

46 3.1

A basic agreement made at the start to guide how people act

rule of thumb
  • Informal
31 3.8

A simple practical way to do or decide things from experience that is not exact

26 7.9

A guide that tells military and other people when they can start fighting and what they may do

19 2.7

A book that lists the rules for a group or activity

14 3.4

An order people must follow exactly, often with punishment if ignored

8 5.8

Government by a country's own people instead of by a foreign power

Decisions made by most people in a group

A fixed instruction you cannot change or adapt

gag rule
  • Formal
5 8.6

A rule that stops people in a committee or parliament from talking about a topic

5 3.7

Treat other people as you want them to treat you

5 2.5

To treat other people the way you want them to treat you

5 8.4

A law about what information can be used as proof in a court case

slide rule
  • Archaic
5 8.5

A long thin tool with sliding scales that people use to do quick math before calculators

home rule
  • Formal
4 6.2

The right of a city or county to run its own local matters without central government control

3 8.6

A rule that stops illegally found evidence from being used in a criminal trial

3 3.3

A basic idea people always follow in a particular job or activity

A person who always obeys instructions and people in charge

hearsay rule
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A rule that stops statements made outside court from being used as evidence

A guide about how to form sentences and use words correctly

1 8.2

A government where one person has all power and others cannot oppose them

1 9.0

A rule that requires showing the original document, photo, or recording in court to prove its content

1 7.8

A clear rule that tells people exactly what to do

1 2.0

A ruler one foot long used to measure length

grammatical rule
  • Specialized
1 3.3

A rule about how to make sentences and phrases correctly

two-second rule
  • Informal
1 5.3

A belief that food dropped on the floor for less than two seconds is still safe to eat

board rule
  • Specialized
7.9

A tool for measuring lumber to find board feet

Very complicated rules that are hard to follow or understand

A flexible tool like a ruler with length marks used to measure and draw straight lines

algorithmic rule
  • Specialized
5.9

A clear step-by-step rule for solving a problem using math or a computer

linguistic rule
  • Specialized
4.2

A guideline that tells how people use words and sentences

Miranda rule
  • Formal
6.2

Police must tell someone arrested they can stay silent, have a lawyer, and anything said can be used in court

morphological rule
  • Specialized
7.6

A way to show how words are made from small parts like un- and -ness

9.9

An informal guideline that picture parts should not extend above a diagonal from left to right

A simple practical way to decide what to do from experience to solve problems faster

Naegele's rule
  • Specialized
8.4

A way to find a baby's due date by using the first day of the last period

9.9

A strict rule applied the same to everyone that ignores personal differences

rule of morphology
  • Specialized
7.4

A way that shows how words are made and changed in a language

9.9

A court changes a gift meant for a charity so the giver's main wish still happens

9.9

A rule that stops people using spoken words to change a written contract in court

plumb rule
  • Specialized
7.9

A straight narrow board with a hanging weight used to check if a wall is perfectly vertical

Vegas rule
  • Informal
8.7

An informal rule that people do not tell others about things that happen on a trip

A simple rule used at work that is not perfect but works in practice

work to rule
  • Literature
7.2

A protest where employees slow down by doing only required tasks

How Authoritative

tyranny
109 6.7
regime
  • Literature
535 6.1
rule
697 2.0
government
∞ 1.0
administration
161 3.3

Surface Forms

rule singular
rules plural

Etymology

Rule (power or government) comes from the Latin words regula ('straight stick' or 'guide') and regere ('to lead'). A leader was seen as someone who 'kept things straight', so rule came to mean the power to lead and govern.