unregulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unregulated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not controlled or governed by rules or regulations. Example: "The unregulated market led to a surge in unethical business practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People are coming to the realisation that the system of globalised markets - unregulated, unpoliced and unguided - is fatally flawed.

The Guardian

"The participation of instructors and specialists from third countries on Ukrainian territory, where the internal conflict remains unregulated, where problems with realising the points of the Minsk agreements persist, definitely doesn't help resolve the conflict," president Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists after the US paratroopers first arrived in Ukraine on Friday.

The Guardian

Tens of thousands of unregulated health professionals continue to perform investigations, tests and procedures on patients.

The Guardian

It reflected a book-learned view of unregulated market power which failed to ring her alarm bells as Scargill's primitive notions of class struggle did, and was just as naïve.

The Guardian

One of the premises is that many of the things we accept as "modern life" – rampant free markets, unregulated employers, hyper-surveillance of the public sector, a very powerful landlord class – are actually very old-fashioned.

The Guardian

In the developing world this is especially narrow: tobacco exposure may be secondary in some environments to indoor air pollution as the major risk factor, and the incursion and marketing by tobacco companies is aggressive and often unregulated.

The Guardian

Details of the research come in the week that a government consultation document proposed a voluntary code of practice for public CCTV systems, but left private cameras largely unregulated.

The Guardian

But there are many other less obvious examples of such externalities, such as the anxiety caused to workers' lives by unregulated labour markets, or the general undermining of values and common decency produced by the single-minded concentration on profit maximisation.

The Guardian - Opinion

But while piped heating directly to homes and businesses is unregulated, alternative suppliers seeking to expand electricity supply currently face a "cap" beyond which they have to enter an expensive national pool.

The Guardian

"Prohibition doesn't work and products that are banned will almost certainly be available on the unregulated black market.

The Guardian

CCAMLR was formed back in 1982 over concerns at unregulated fishing of krill – the small shrimp-like species that provides the backbone to the Antarctic's food web.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing industries or markets, specify what aspects are "unregulated" to provide clarity. For example, instead of just saying "the unregulated market", specify "the unregulated derivatives market".

Common error

Avoid using "unregulated" as a standalone criticism without explaining the specific negative consequences. Highlight the potential risks and impacts of the lack of regulation.

Linguistic Context

The word "unregulated" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a lack of governmental or institutional control. As Ludwig AI confirms, this term correctly describes the absence of rules and standards.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "unregulated" is frequently used to describe the absence of control or governance, often carrying implications of potential instability or risk. As Ludwig AI points out, the term is grammatically sound and readily usable across various domains. Usage is particularly common in news media, formal business contexts, and science, as demonstrated by examples from sources like The Guardian and The Economist. While often used critically, remember that a lack of regulation can also foster innovation, requiring careful contextual understanding. Consider related terms like "uncontrolled" or "unrestricted" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uncontrolled

Indicates a lack of management or restraint, similar to "unregulated" but can imply a more active process of losing control.

unrestricted

Emphasizes the absence of limits or boundaries, suggesting freedom from constraints, akin to something "unregulated".

unsupervised

Highlights the lack of oversight or monitoring, which relates to the lack of regulatory control implied by "unregulated".

unrestricted

Implies a lack of specific guidelines, rules, or standards that would normally govern a process or activity.

unchecked

Suggests that something is not being monitored or verified, leading to potential problems or imbalances, similar to "unregulated".

without oversight

Highlights the absence of supervisory review or management, reflecting the lack of control in an "unregulated" environment.

unlicensed

Points to the absence of formal permission or certification, implying a lack of regulatory compliance, similar to something being "unregulated".

unlegislated

Focuses on the absence of laws or statutes governing something, similar to the implications of "unregulated".

unpoliced

Emphasizes the lack of enforcement or monitoring by authorities, reflecting the potential for abuses in an "unregulated" context.

derelated

Implies that the rules have been suppressed or weakened, resulting in the absence of guidance and control.

FAQs

How can I use "unregulated" in a sentence?

You can use "unregulated" to describe something that is not controlled or governed by rules or regulations. For example: "The "unregulated market" led to unethical business practices."

What are some alternatives to "unregulated"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "uncontrolled", "unrestricted", or "unsupervised" instead of "unregulated".

What is the difference between "unregulated" and "uncontrolled"?

"Unregulated" implies the absence of formal rules or laws, while "uncontrolled" suggests a lack of management or restraint, which might stem from various factors, not just the absence of regulation.

Is it always negative to describe something as "unregulated"?

While often used in a negative context to highlight potential risks, describing something as "unregulated" is not inherently negative. Sometimes, a lack of regulation can foster innovation and flexibility, though it often implies potential for abuse or instability. It is important to provide context.