rule
An official instruction or principle that tells you what is allowed and what is not allowed in a specific situation, game, or organization. Rules help maintain order and ensure that everyone behaves in a fair or expected way.
Examples
3 of 5Don't forget the rule about taking off your shoes at the door.
Don't forget the rule about taking off your shoes at the door.
The committee has established a new rule regarding public health safety.
The committee has established a new rule regarding public health safety.
In our house, the golden rule is: you cook, I clean.
In our house, the golden rule is: you cook, I clean.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Ruler' (the measuring tool). A ruler keeps lines straight; a 'Rule' keeps your behavior straight.
Quick Quiz
If you want to win the game, you must follow the ____.
Correct!
The correct answer is: rules
Examples
Don't forget the rule about taking off your shoes at the door.
everydayDon't forget the rule about taking off your shoes at the door.
The committee has established a new rule regarding public health safety.
formalThe committee has established a new rule regarding public health safety.
In our house, the golden rule is: you cook, I clean.
informalIn our house, the golden rule is: you cook, I clean.
The grammatical rule states that every sentence must have a subject and a verb.
academicThe grammatical rule states that every sentence must have a subject and a verb.
Company rules require all employees to wear an ID badge at all times.
businessCompany rules require all employees to wear an ID badge at all times.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
as a rule
usually; in most cases
rule of thumb
a practical and approximate way of doing or measuring something
bend the rules
to allow someone to do something that is usually not allowed
Often Confused With
A law is an official rule made by the government for a whole country, while a rule can be made by any group like a school or a family.
Usage Notes
The word is most frequently used in the plural ('rules') when referring to the collective instructions for a game or a social environment. It can also be used as a verb meaning to govern or control.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'law' when they should use 'rule' for minor settings like a classroom. They also occasionally confuse the tool 'ruler' with the concept 'rule'.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Ruler' (the measuring tool). A ruler keeps lines straight; a 'Rule' keeps your behavior straight.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French word 'riule', which came from the Latin 'regula' meaning a 'straight stick' or 'pattern'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Different cultures have various 'unwritten rules' regarding social politeness and personal space that are expected to be followed even if they are not written down.
Quick Quiz
If you want to win the game, you must follow the ____.
Correct!
The correct answer is: rules
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
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authorityAuthority refers to the legitimate power or right to give or...
protocolA protocol is a system of fixed rules and formal procedures...
orderAn order is a request for food or goods that you want to buy...
disciplineThe adjective form 'disciplined' describes a person or behav...
Related Words
arbiter
B2An arbiter is a person or authority who has the power to settle a dispute or decide what is right, acceptable, or fashionable. It can refer to a formal legal role or a metaphorical judge of cultural and social standards.
arbitrarily
C2To act in a way that is based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason or system. It often implies a decision-making process that is perceived as unfair or lacking logical justification.
arbitrariness
C1The quality of being based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason, system, or logical necessity. It often describes decisions, rules, or actions that appear unfair or unpredictable because they lack a clear underlying principle.
arbitrator
C2A neutral third party officially appointed to settle a dispute between two conflicting parties outside of a court of law. Their role is to hear evidence from both sides and issue a final, typically legally binding, decision known as an award.
arboreal
B2Arboreal describes animals that live in trees or things relating to trees. It is most commonly used in biological contexts to distinguish tree-dwelling species from those that live on the ground or in water.
appreciate
B2To recognize the full worth or quality of something, or to be grateful for a gesture or action. It can also mean to understand a situation fully or to increase in value over time.
approbate
C1To formally or officially sanction, approve, or authorize an action, document, or status. It is typically used in legal, ecclesiastical, or high-level administrative contexts to indicate authoritative validation.
approve
C1Officially sanctioned or accepted as being of an adequate standard or satisfying certain requirements. It describes something that has received formal authorization or endorsement from a person or body in authority.
apropos
B2Something that is apropos is very appropriate or relevant to a particular situation or subject being discussed. It describes a remark, action, or timing that fits perfectly with the current circumstances.
arboretum
C1A botanical garden specifically devoted to the cultivation and exhibition of a wide variety of trees and shrubs for scientific or educational purposes. It serves as a living collection of woody plants, often featuring rare or non-native species.
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