Regulate and relegate are two words that are often confused. We will examine the definitions of the words regulate and relegate, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
To regulate means to control something such as a process, business, machine, or activity. Regulate may mean to install a set of laws that must be observed, to design a set of rules for an institution, or to make adjustments to a machine so that it may perform optimally. Regulate is a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are regulates, regulated, regulating, regulation, regulator. The word regulate is derived from the Latin word regulare meaning to direct or control.
Relegate means to assign something or someone to an inferior position. In British English, relegate means to assign a sports team to a lower division. Relegate is a verb, related words are relegates, relegated, relegating, relegation. The word relegate is derived from the Latin word relegatus, which means to put aside, to banish, to remove.
Examples
Bicycle share companies have quickly become one of Dallas residents’ favorite things to gripe about, and City Hall now seems poised to draw up new rules that will regulate how those companies will operate. (D Magazine)
Sadly, Kansas is one of only three states that do not regulate the massage industry, according to the American Massage Therapy Association. (The Lawrence Journal-World)
National League chief executive Michael Tattersall has warned Bromley, Maidstone United and Sutton United he will relegate them to the sixth tier if they choose their artificial pitches over promotion to the English Football League. (The Belfast Telegraph)
Words that convey the message “if you cannot prove your claims then you will not be believed” abandon those who have suffered reprehensible criminal violations of their human dignity and relegate survivors to discredited exile.” (The National Catholic Reporter)