regulatorily

Regulatorily is an adverb used to describe actions conducted in a regulatory or regulatory-compliant manner. Derived from the adjective regulatory, the term signals adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and procedures established by governments, agencies, or industry bodies. It is a relatively rare word and is most often encountered in formal, legal, or policy-oriented writing.

Because regulatorily can sound awkward in ordinary prose, many writers prefer alternatives such as in a regulatory manner, in compliance with regulations, or under regulatory requirements. When used, it usually appears in contexts discussing compliance, governance, or oversight where precision about regulatory expectations is intended.

The form is built from regulate and the -atory suffix to yield regulatory, plus the -ly suffix to create an adverb. Some dictionaries do not list regulatorily, reflecting its rarity. In practice, writers usually avoid it in favor of in a regulatory manner or in compliance with regulations. Example: The firm operated in a regulatory manner to ensure timely disclosures.

See also: regulatory, regulation, compliance, regulatory affairs.