regular

1 of 2

adjective

reg·​u·​lar ˈre-gyə-lər 

ˈre-g(ə-)lər,

 also  ˈrā-

1

: constituted, conducted, scheduled, or done in conformity with established or prescribed usages, rules, or discipline

2

a

: recurring, attending, or functioning at fixed, uniform, or normal intervals

a regular income

a regular churchgoer

regular bowel movements

b

: orderly, methodical

regular habits

3

a

: formed, built, arranged, or ordered according to some established rule, law, principle, or type

b(1)

: both equilateral and equiangular

a regular polygon

(2)

: having faces that are congruent regular polygons and all the polyhedral angles congruent

a regular polyhedron

c

of a flower : having the arrangement of floral parts exhibiting radial symmetry with members of the same whorl similar in form

4

a

: normal, standard: such as

(1)

: absolute, complete

a regular fool

the office seemed like a regular madhouse

(2)

: thinking or behaving in an acceptable, normal, or agreeable manner

was a regular guy

b(1)

: conforming to the normal or usual manner of inflection

(2)

: weak sense 7

c

of a postage stamp : issued in large numbers over a long period for general use in prepayment of postage

5

: of, relating to, or constituting the permanent standing military force of a state

the regular army

regular soldiers

6

: belonging to a religious order

regular

2 of 2

noun

1

: one who is regular: such as

a

: one who is usually present or participating

especially : a long-standing regular customer

b

: one who can be trusted or depended on

a party regular

c

: a player on an athletic team who usually starts every game

d

: one of the regular clergy

e

: a soldier in a regular army

2

: something of average or medium size

especially : a clothing size designed to fit a person of average height

Synonyms

Adjective

• constant
• frequent
• habitual
• periodic
• periodical
• repeated
• steady

Noun

• dogface
• fighter
• legionary
• legionnaire
• man-at-arms
• serviceman
• soldier
• trooper
• warrior

Choose the Right Synonym for regular

regular, normal, typical, natural mean being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average.

regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

the club's regular monthly meeting

normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

normal behavior for a two-year-old

typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

a typical small town

natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

the natural love of a mother for her child

Examples of regular in a Sentence

Adjective

Most days she follows a regular routine.

The town holds regular meetings.

five regular payments of $100

We made regular use of the pool.

Getting regular exercise is important.

Exercise has become a regular part of my lifestyle.

He is a regular contributor to the magazine.

The seedlings were planted in regular rows.

The wallpaper has a regular pattern of stripes.

Noun

They are regulars at the bar.

He is a regular on the television show.

the regulars on a baseball team

“What kind of gas do you put in your car?” “I use regular.”

We'll have one large soda and two regulars.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Our regular lineup of programs continues at the library in February with storytimes for babies through toddlers, Teen Advisory Board for high school students, book club for adults and a special CPR Class for students in grades 3-7. —Barbara D. Hathaway, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

Its pilot had run July 21, but this marked the beginning of its regular weekday programming. 1975: The cargo ship SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior during a storm, taking with it a crew of 29. —The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024

Noun

Here’s a surprising fact about the offensive line that is allowing Caleb Williams to be sacked four times a game: Independent of each other, the regulars are having good years. —Phil Rogers, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Crockett, 43, is going into her second term and has become known as a fierce political combatant of Republicans and an MSNBC regular. —Andrew Solender, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English reguler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin regularis regular, from Latin, of a bar, from regula rule — more at rule

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing regular

• at regular intervals
• canon regular
• in regular use
• regular coffee
• regular customer
• regular solid

Kids Definition

regular

1 of 2 adjective

reg·​u·​lar ˈreg-yə-lər 

1

: belonging to a religious community and living by its rules

2

a

: formed, built, arranged, or ordered according to an established rule, law, or type

b

: having all sides or faces equal and all angles equal

a square is a regular polygon

c

: even or balanced in form or structure

especially : having radial symmetry

regular flowers

3

a

: being in the habit of following a method : orderly, methodical

b

: returning or acting at fixed times

4

a

: following established or prescribed uses or rules

b

: being such without any doubt : complete, unmitigated

a regular scoundrel

c

: following the normal or usual manner of changing tense

regular verbs

5

: of, relating to, or being a permanent army of a country

regularly

ˈreg-yə-lər-lē

adverb

regular

2 of 2 noun

1

: a member of the clergy who belongs to a religious community

2

: a soldier in a regular army

3

: a player on an athletic team who usually starts every game

Medical Definition

regular

adjective

reg·​u·​lar ˈreg-yə-lər 

1

: having or constituting an isometric system

regular crystals

2

: conforming to what is usual or normal: as

a

: recurring or functioning at fixed or normal intervals

regular bowel movements

b

: having menstrual periods or bowel movements at normal intervals

regularly adverb