rulerule1 /ruːl/ noun1[countableC] an official instruction that says how things should be done or what is allowedThe phone companies are working under new rules now.
The company broke government rules to undercut other bids.
company rules and regulations regarding sexual harassment
→ see also Hague Rules → accounting rule → earnings rule2[uncountableU] the government of a country by a particular group of people or using a particular systema constitution that formally ended one-party rule
3work to ruleHUMAN RESOURCES to work less quickly or effectively than usual, but without breaking your employer’s rules, as a protestThe customs men are prohibited from striking, but some have worked to rule out of sympathy with the government workers.
4be the rule to be the normal or usual thing to happen in a situationMonopoly business practices are the rule here and not the exception.