regiment

American  

[rej-uh-muhnt, rej-uh-ment] / ˈrɛdʒ ə mənt, ˈrɛdʒ əˌmɛnt /

noun

1. Military. a unit of ground forces, consisting of two or more battalions or battle groups, a headquarters unit, and certain supporting units.

2. Obsolete. government.

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verb (used with object)

regiments, present (3rd person singular) regimented, past participle, past regimenting present participle

1. to manage or treat in a rigid, uniform manner; subject to strict discipline.

2. to form into a regiment or regiments.

3. to assign to a regiment or group.

4. to form into an organized group, usually for the purpose of rigid or complete control.

regiment British  

noun

1. a military formation varying in size from a battalion to a number of battalions

2. a large number in regular or organized groups

   regiments of beer bottles

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verb

1. to force discipline or order on, esp in a domineering manner

2. to organize into a regiment or regiments

3. to form into organized groups

4. to assign to a regiment

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonregimented
  adjective
• overregiment
  verb (used with object)
• regimental
  adjective
• regimentally
  adverb
• regimentation
  noun
• unregimented
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have regimented
  perfect
• has regimented
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am regimenting
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been regimenting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is regimenting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are regimenting
  progressive
• have been regimenting
  perfect progressive
• regiments
  singular 3rd person
• regimenting
  participle

Past

• had regimented
  perfect
• were regimenting
  progressive plural
• had been regimenting
  perfect progressive
• was regimenting
  progressive singular
• regimented
  simple
• regimented
  participle

Future

• will regiment
  simple
• will have regimented
  perfect
• will be regimenting
  progressive
• will have been regimenting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of regiment

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Late Latin regimentum, equivalent to Latin reg ( ere ) to rule + -i- -i- + -mentum -ment

Explanation

Use the word regiment to describe a military unit that is smaller than a division: “Geoff’s new regiment consisted of three battalions that had been based in Alabama.” Most often used as a noun to describe a military unit made up of several battalions, the word regiment can also be used as a verb. If you ever need to assign troops to a regiment, you might say something like, “Next week I will regiment the ground forces arriving from North Dakota.” The verb form can also be used in a more general sense to describe any action that is characterized by strict order or control: "Her diet is strictly regimented to include only Sugar Babies."

Example Sentences

An official said the helicopter seen in the regional training was from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, or SOAR.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

He discovered that Stan was an infantryman with the 5th Battalion of the 1st Welsh Regiment.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

One option that has been under discussion in the Pentagon would shift the 2nd Cavalry Regiment to Poland from Vilseck, Germany.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

A former member of the Special Air Service Regiment, Roberts-Smith was once lauded as Australia's most distinguished living war hero.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

As they waited for instructions to march, they practiced their French and bantered with the Irish Seventh Regiment.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield