ruling

1 of 2

noun

rul·​ing ˈrü-liŋ How to pronounce ruling (audio)
: an official or authoritative decision, decree, statement, or interpretation (as by a judge on a point of law)

ruling

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: exerting power or authority
the ruling party
b
: chief, predominating
a ruling passion
2
: generally prevailing

Examples of ruling in a Sentence

Noun The decision overturns the Supreme Court's earlier ruling. She disputed the referee's ruling. Adjective members of the ruling class the ruling opinion on premarital sex
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
But Apple took a $10.2 billion income tax hit from a European Union ruling that wiped away its special tax status in Ireland, sending the company’s net income for the 2024 fiscal year to its lowest level since its fiscal year ending September 2020. Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Newsweek reached out to the Illinois Gaming Board via an inquiry form and received a video of the meeting at which this ruling was made. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Between 1995 and 2022, there were only 308 successful kidney transplants in Myanmar, according to ruling junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s office. Teele Rebane, CNN, 30 Aug. 2024 Mark Chenoweth, President and Chief Legal Officer, of the New Civil Liberties Alliance that argued the case before the Supreme Court, said in a statement the ruling remedied government overreach. Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 14 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for ruling 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ruling was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ruling

Cite this Entry

“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruling. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ruling

noun
rul·​ing
ˈrü-liŋ
: an official decision (as by a judge)

Legal Definition

ruling

noun
rul·​ing
: an official or authoritative determination, decree, statement, or interpretation (as by a judge on a question of law)
followed a previous ruling on the same question
see also revenue ruling compare decision, disposition, finding, holding, judgment, opinion, verdict

More from Merriam-Webster on ruling

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