ruling
ruling — adjective
1. currently in charge of a country, organization, or other group, and responsible
currently in charge of a country, organization, or other group, and responsible for making the main decisions about how it operates.
The ruling party has promised to build more schools across the region.
attributive use: ruling + party / government / group
Several newspaper articles criticised the ruling class for ignoring the needs of the poor.
The ruling council voted to increase the city's budget for public transport.
Under the ruling dynasty the country enjoyed a long period of peace.
- governing
very similar in meaning; 'governing' can also be used after linking verbs (e.g. 'the party in government')
- incumbent
more formal, refers specifically to the current office holder; 'the incumbent president' vs 'the ruling party'
- dominant
broader — can describe social or cultural influence, not just political control
- opposition
refers to political parties not in power; 'the opposition party'
文法句型
ruling + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Cannot be used after a linking verb: ❌ 'The party is ruling.' ✅ 'The ruling party.'
常見錯誤
ruling — noun
1. an official statement or decision from a judge, a court, or any other person or
an official statement or decision from a judge, a court, or any other person or group with the power to settle a dispute or decide an issue.
The judge's ruling on the case was announced early this morning.
ruling + on + [issue/topic]
Lotte plans to appeal the court's ruling because she believes the decision was unfair.
The Supreme Court issued a ruling that all citizens have the right to vote.
A higher court later overturned the ruling, and the company was allowed to continue operating.
文法句型
ruling on [issue]
ruling that [clause]
make / issue / uphold / overturn a ruling
用法筆記
This sense can apply to any official body — not only courts but also committees, referees, or regulatory agencies. When the context is clear, 'ruling' alone often means a court decision.
常見錯誤
2. the written explanation and legal arguments that a judge provides to support and
the written explanation and legal arguments that a judge provides to support and justify a court's decision.
The ruling clearly explains why the judge decided in favour of the tenants.
Law students studied the court's ruling to understand how the judge interpreted the contract.
studied / analysed / examined the ruling
Beatrix quoted several passages from the ruling to support her argument.
The ruling drew on two earlier Supreme Court decisions to build its legal logic.
文法句型
the ruling of the court
the court's ruling
用法筆記
In legal contexts, the word 'ruling' can refer both to the decision itself (sense 1) and to the written reasoning behind it (sense 2). When the focus is on why a decision was reached — the legal logic and analysis — this sense is intended. Distinguish from sense 1 by noting whether the text describes the outcome (sense 1) or the explanation of that outcome (sense 2).