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Ruling: meaning, definitions and examples

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ruling

 

[ˈruːlɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

law

The act of exercising authority or control; governing.

Synonyms

decree, governing, judgment.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ruling

Use this word when referring to an authoritative decision made by someone in a position of power, often in a legal or official context.

  • The court's ruling was in favor of the defendant.
  • The ruling party decided to implement new regulations.
governing

Use this word to describe the act of exercising authority and control over a country, organization, or people. It often suggests an ongoing process or system.

  • The committee is responsible for governing the new policies.
  • Effective governing requires both wisdom and compassion.
decree

This word is best used when referring to an official order issued by a legal authority, often implying something imposed from a higher power and leaving little room for opposition.

  • The king issued a decree banning all forms of protest.
  • According to the decree, all shops must close by 8 PM.
judgment

This word should be used when referring to a formal decision made by a court or judge, often in the context of evaluating evidence and passing a verdict.

  • The judgment was announced after hours of deliberation.
  • Her judgment in the case set a new legal precedent.

Examples of usage

  • The ruling of the judge was final.
  • The ruling party in the country has been in power for decades.
Context #2 | Noun

politics

A decision or declaration made by a government or other authority.

Synonyms

decision, pronouncement, verdict.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ruling

Typically used in the context of legal decisions made by a judge or court. It implies a formal judgment or order in legal cases.

  • The court issued a ruling in favor of the plaintiff.
  • The judge's ruling was unexpected.
decision

A broad term used for any conclusion or resolution reached after consideration. It can be used in everyday situations as well as in professional or legal contexts.

  • She made a decision to go back to school.
  • The committee's decision was to proceed with the project.
verdict

Primarily used in legal contexts to describe the formal finding of fact made by a jury or judge in a trial.

  • The jury reached a guilty verdict.
  • After hours of deliberation, the verdict was announced.
pronouncement

Often used for formal declarations or authoritative statements. It can be used in legal contexts as well as for public or official announcements.

  • The mayor's pronouncement was met with mixed reactions.
  • The judge's pronouncement left no room for ambiguity.

Examples of usage

  • The Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on civil rights.
  • The ruling of the president was met with both praise and criticism.
Context #3 | Noun

sports

An official decision or judgment, especially in a game or competition.

Synonyms

call, decision, judgment.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ruling

Used typically in legal or formal settings when referring to an official decision made by someone in authority, especially a judge.

  • The court's ruling was in favor of the defendant
  • The judge issued a ruling that changed the course of the case
decision

General term used in a wide variety of contexts to indicate choosing an option after consideration. Can be used in both casual and formal settings.

  • I made a decision to change careers
  • The board's decision will impact all employees
judgment

Often used in formal and legal contexts to refer to well-considered conclusions, typically by someone with authority. Can have a negative connotation when referring to someone's critical opinion.

  • Her judgment was questioned by her peers
  • The judge's judgment was final and could not be appealed
call

Commonly used in everyday language and sports to refer to choices or decisions made quickly, often in the moment.

  • It was a tough call, but we decided to cancel the event
  • The referee's call on the play was controversial

Examples of usage

  • The referee's ruling was controversial and led to protests from the losing team.
  • The ruling on the play was overturned after a review by the officials.

Translations

Translations of the word "ruling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 decisão

🇮🇳 निर्णय

🇩🇪 Entscheidung

🇮🇩 keputusan

🇺🇦 рішення

🇵🇱 decyzja

🇯🇵 決定 (けってい)

🇫🇷 décision

🇪🇸 decisión

🇹🇷 karar

🇰🇷 결정

🇸🇦 قرار

🇨🇿 rozhodnutí

🇸🇰 rozhodnutie

🇨🇳 决定 (juédìng)

🇸🇮 odločitev

🇮🇸 ákvörðun

🇰🇿 шешім

🇬🇪 გადაწყვეტილება

🇦🇿 qərar

🇲🇽 decisión

Etymology

The word 'ruling' has its origins in the Middle English word 'rulen', which comes from the Old French 'regle', meaning 'a straight stick or bar'. The concept of ruling has been present in human societies for centuries, with rulers and authorities making decisions and declarations to govern their subjects. Over time, the term 'ruling' has evolved to encompass various contexts, from legal to political to sports.

See also: overrule, rule, ruled, ruler, rulers, rules, unruliness.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,366, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.