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

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

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

Past

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

Rapamycin is a widely available immunosuppressant drug traditionally used as an anti-rejection regiment for organ transplant patients.

From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2026

The family of an 18-year-old soldier who died in his barracks nine days after escorting Queen Elizabeth II's coffin said his regiment needed to take "better care of the soldiers".

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

Zhang joined the army at the age of 18 and moved up the ranks in a regiment headquartered in southwestern Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Posting on social media, the prince said he was "proud to be colonel of regiment - and to serve pudding to them this year".

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

As Galya lay on her stretcher about to be carried away, she made Irina Rakobolskaya promise that when she came back to the regiment, she’d be allowed to fly again.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein