Meaning & use
final rule
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablelegallaw
An official regulation that has been formally approved and is now in effect.
Grammar: Countable; often used with the definite article: the final rule.
Patterns
- the final rule on something
- issue a final rule
- under the final rule
The agency published the final rule on air pollution last week.
Under the final rule, companies must report their emissions annually.
Environmental groups welcomed the final rule but said it should be stronger.
Word forms
| plural | final rules |
|---|
Common combinations
- issue a final rule
- The department plans to issue a final rule by December.
- final rule on
- The final rule on overtime pay takes effect in January.
- proposed rule
- The proposed rule was changed after public comments, and the final rule was released.
- under the final rule
- Under the final rule, small businesses get more time to comply.
Synonyms and how they differ
- regulation
- A general term for any official rule; 'final rule' specifically means the version that is officially adopted and effective.
- ruling
- A decision by a judge or court, not a regulation issued by an agency.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: final rule or final ruling?
final rule vs final ruling
A 'final ruling' is a judge's decision that ends a case; a 'final rule' is a regulation issued by a government agency.
Practice
After considering public comments, the agency will publish the ______ rule next month.
Choose one answer.
'Final' is the adjective needed before 'rule'. 'Finally' is an adverb, 'finalize' is a verb, and 'finality' is a noun, so none fit grammatically here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “final rule”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.