rulebound

R1U1L1E1B3O1U1N1D2

adjective

Bound by rules; rigidly uncompromising.

Scrabble 12
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Meanings

adjectiverulebound (comparative more rulebound, superlative most rulebound)

comparative more rulebound · superlative most rulebound

  1. Bound by rules; rigidly uncompromising.

    Reality television is pretty rulebound, and it works by upsets.

    2007 January 6, Virginia Heffernan, “Hey, Young Writers, That’s Mr. Rolling Stone to You”, in New York Times

Origin

From rule + bound.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

rulebound. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rulebound

MLA

“rulebound.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rulebound. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rulebound,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rulebound.

Source: rulebound on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.