Depression is associated with impaired emotion regulation, and individual differences in the use of emotion regulation strategies may play a significant role in the disorder. This study examined the relationship between cognitive inhibition and the use of specific emotion regulation strategies, including rumination, reappraisal, and expressive suppression, in clinically depressed, formerly depressed, and never-depressed participants. Results showed that depressed participants exhibited reduced inhibition when processing negative material, and this was associated with increased rumination. Across the entire sample, reduced inhibition was related to less use of reappraisal and more use of expressive suppression. In formerly depressed participants, less use of reappraisal, more use of rumination, and greater expressive suppression were linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that individual differences in emotion regulation strategies are important in depression, and that deficits in cognitive control are related to the use of maladaptive strategies. The study used a negative affective priming task to assess inhibition and its relation to emotion regulation strategies. Results indicated that reduced inhibition of negative material was associated with increased rumination and decreased use of reappraisal. The study also found that inhibition of negative material was related to less expressive suppression in the control group. Overall, the study highlights the importance of cognitive inhibition in emotion regulation and its potential role in depression.Depression is associated with impaired emotion regulation, and individual differences in the use of emotion regulation strategies may play a significant role in the disorder. This study examined the relationship between cognitive inhibition and the use of specific emotion regulation strategies, including rumination, reappraisal, and expressive suppression, in clinically depressed, formerly depressed, and never-depressed participants. Results showed that depressed participants exhibited reduced inhibition when processing negative material, and this was associated with increased rumination. Across the entire sample, reduced inhibition was related to less use of reappraisal and more use of expressive suppression. In formerly depressed participants, less use of reappraisal, more use of rumination, and greater expressive suppression were linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that individual differences in emotion regulation strategies are important in depression, and that deficits in cognitive control are related to the use of maladaptive strategies. The study used a negative affective priming task to assess inhibition and its relation to emotion regulation strategies. Results indicated that reduced inhibition of negative material was associated with increased rumination and decreased use of reappraisal. The study also found that inhibition of negative material was related to less expressive suppression in the control group. Overall, the study highlights the importance of cognitive inhibition in emotion regulation and its potential role in depression.