Chelsea's skipper denied the charge but the commission ruled that he was guilty of misconduct during the Blues' Barclays Premier League defeat at QPR on October 23 last year.
The 31-year-old, who on Sunday announced his retirement from international football, can lodge an appeal against the panel's decision.
Terry's representatives, Elite Management, said in a statement released on his behalf: 'Mr Terry is disappointed that the FA Regulatory Commission has reached a different conclusion to the clear not guilty verdict of a court of law.
'He has asked for the detailed written reasons of the decision and will consider them carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal.'
An FA statement said: 'An independent regulatory commission has today found a charge of misconduct against John Terry proven and has issued a suspension for a period of four matches and a fine of £220,000, pending appeal.
'The Football Association charged Mr Terry on Friday 27 July 2012 with using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand and which included a reference to colour and/or race contrary to FA Rule E3[2] in relation to the Queens Park Rangers FC versus Chelsea FC fixture at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011
'The charge was the result of The FA's long-standing investigation into this matter, which was placed on hold at the request of the Crown Prosecution Service and Mr Terry's representatives pending the outcome of the criminal trial.
'The decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission is as follows:
Fined the sum of £220,000.
'The independent regulatory commission will provide written reasons for its decision in due course. Mr Terry has the right to appeal the decision of the independent regulatory commission to an Appeal Board. An appeal must be lodged within 14 days from receipt of the written reasons for the decision.
'The penalty is suspended until after the outcome of any appeal, or the time for appealing expires, or should Mr Terry decide not to appeal. The reason for this is to ensure that the penalty does not take effect before any appeal so that Mr Terry has an effective right of appeal.'
Chelsea released their own statement which read: 'Chelsea Football Club notes and respects today's decision by the Football Association regarding John Terry
'We also recognise that John has the right to appeal that decision. It is therefore inappropriate for us to comment further on the matter at this time.'
The case centred around an incident during Chelsea's Barclays Premier League defeat at QPR on October 23 last year when the pair clashed verbally on a number of occasions.
Terry was found not guilty in Westminster Magistrates Court in July of a racially-aggravated public order offence with the prosecution unable to prove he had called Ferdinand a "f****** black c***" as an insult.
Terry admitted using the words, but insisted he had only been repeating words he thought Ferdinand had accused him of saying.
Chelsea and England team-mate Ashley Cole gave evidence that helped exonerate Terry, telling the court: 'We shouldn't be sitting here'.
The FA's decision to press ahead with their own charges infuriated Terry to the extent that on the eve of the disciplinary hearing he announced he was quitting international football with immediate effect, saying his position was 'untenable'.
Terry's legal team had argued the governing body's own rules dictated that his acquittal in court meant the case could not proceed but the FA believed their charge was distinct from the court charge.
The panel who handed Liverpool striker Luis Suarez an eight-match ban when they found him guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra last season declared at that time that simply using racist language was enough to constitute a breach of FA rules.
Meanwhile Joey Barton has criticised the FA after Terry was banned for four games - eight fewer than the former QPR midfielder received for violent conduct.
Barton, on loan at Marseille, said on Twitter: 'Well I think that proves a lot. What an absolute farce. Twelve games for violent conduct and only four for that. FA should be embarrassed. £shambles.
'Had a vivid dream last night involving Terry, a roaring crowd and a firing squad. Ah, not the turnout I expected...
'I was expecting at least a public execution after a year.
'Twelve games!!! By the FA's perverse reckoning, I'd of got less of a ban for racially abusing the Man City players than tickling them as I did.
'In what circumstance can that be right?'
MP Damian Collins, a member of the culture, media and sport committee that produced a report on racism in football earlier this month, said Terry should now admit what he did was wrong.
Collins said: 'It would be good if there was some sort of recognition on John Terry's part that what he did was wrong. This is something football should learn from.'
Suarez was given an eight-match suspension and Collins said the FA should lay down what sanctions should be expected.
He added: 'The FA have to establish some sort of consistency. If the longer ban is due to more incidents within the match then that's their right. I certainly think what John Terry got was the minimum.
'If there is a scale of these offences, the FA should give some sort of penalties people can expect.'
Former England manager Graham Taylor said he hoped a line could now be drawn underneath the case.
He told Sky Sports News: 'Having sat on these panels and made judgements myself I know those people will have come to their conclusion in an honest and proper manner - they will have had legal advice.
'Whether John and Chelsea accept is it up to them but I think it might be in everyone's interest to put it to bed.
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