Regulars

Regulars is the plural form of regular and is used in several related senses. In everyday use, regulars are people who visit or participate in something on a repeated basis—frequent customers of a business, habitual attendees at a club or venue, or members of a social group who show up regularly. The term often implies familiarity with the place, its staff, and its routines.

Etymology and sense development: regular comes from Latin reg- ‘rule’ and by extension ‘in accordance with a rule’ or habit. The sense of regular attendance or habitual behavior developed as people were described as behaving in a regular, dependable pattern.

Common uses:

- In business and hospitality, regulars are valued customers who visit often and may receive consistent service, known preferences, or informal recognition from staff.

- In military and political contexts, regulars refers to a standing, professional army as opposed to irregular forces such as militias or guerrillas. The term contrasts formal, trained troops with non-regular fighting units.

- In media and culture, regulars can denote recurring participants—cast members, hosts, or characters who appear across many episodes rather than as one-off guest stars.

- In social settings, regulars may describe core members of a group who contribute to the social dynamic and routines of the community.

Impact and considerations: Regulars can provide stability, predictable demand, and a sense of community for a venue or organization. They can also shape norms and preferences. However, overemphasis on regulars can hinder inclusion of new patrons or discourage diversity of interaction.

See also: customer loyalty, patronage, standing army, recurring cast.

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