szabályszer

Szabályszer is a Hungarian neologism formed from szabály ("rule") and szer ("device, instrument"). It refers to a mechanism, system, or set of processes designed to ensure compliance with rules or standards within a legal, regulatory, or organizational context. In practice a szabályszer can denote internal controls, compliance programs, regulatory instruments, or automated procedures that monitor, enforce, or facilitate adherence to rules.

The term is not widely attested in standard dictionaries and is mostly found in academic or policy writing rather than everyday language. It is used to describe a general class of regulatory or governance tools rather than a specific organization. As such its precise scope is flexible and context-dependent, often overlapping with terms such as compliance mechanism, internal control system, or regulatory instrument.

Etymology is straightforward: the word is a compound of szabály and szer. Its emergence is tied to contemporary discussions of governance, risk management, and compliance where authors seek a concise label for the bundle of mechanisms that ensure rules are followed.

In usage, a szabályszer can encompass technical measures (automated monitoring and reporting), organizational arrangements (segregation of duties, audits), and legal instruments (codes of conduct, penalties). Critics argue that the term risks vagueness and may obscure concrete processes; proponents see it as a useful umbrella for describing comprehensive compliance architecture.

See also: compliance, internal controls, regulatory instrument, governance, risk management.