Meaning & use
rule follower
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Meaning
nouncountable
A person who always obeys rules and expects others to do the same.
Grammar: Countable: 'a rule follower', 'two rule followers'. Often used with 'strict' or 'blind'.
Patterns
- a strict rule follower
- a blind rule follower
She's such a rule follower that she won't even cross the street on a red light.
The company needs rule followers to keep the factory safe.
He's a rule follower by nature, so he always files his taxes on time.
Word forms
| plural | rule followers |
|---|
Common combinations
- a strict rule follower
- My grandfather was a strict rule follower and never broke a promise.
- a blind rule follower
- Being a blind rule follower can be dangerous when the rules are unfair.
- a natural rule follower
- As a natural rule follower, she felt uncomfortable cheating on the test.
Synonyms and how they differ
- conformist
- More formal and often disapproving; it focuses on fitting in with social norms, not just following written rules.
- stickler
- Suggests someone who insists on exact details, often about rules; stronger and more negative than 'rule follower'.
Opposites
Word family
- rule-following adjective
- Describing behavior that obeys rules: 'rule-following behavior'.
Commonly confused: rule follower or follower?
rule follower vs follower
A 'follower' can mean someone who supports a leader or a social media account. 'Rule follower' specifically means someone who obeys rules.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'rule follower' correctly.
Choose one answer.
The phrase is a countable noun and needs an article: 'a rule follower'. Option 2 uses the wrong preposition, option 3 is missing the article, and option 4 reverses the words.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rule follower”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.