regent

[ree-juhnt]

noun

1. a person who exercises the ruling power in a kingdom during the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign.

2. a ruler or governor.

3. a member of the governing board of a state university or a state educational system.

4. a university officer who exercises general supervision over the conduct and welfare of the students.

5. (in certain Catholic universities) a member of the religious order who is associated in the administration of a school or college with a layperson who is its dean or director.

adjective

1. acting as regent of a country; exercising ruling authority on behalf of a sovereign during their minority, absence, or disability (usually used postpositively).

   a prince regent.

regent

/ ˈriːdʒənt /

noun

1. the ruler or administrator of a country during the minority, absence, or incapacity of its monarch

2. (formerly) a senior teacher or administrator in any of certain universities

3. a member of the governing board of certain schools and colleges

4. rare,  any person who governs or rules

adjective

1. (usually postpositive) acting or functioning as a regent

   a queen regent

2. rare,  governing, ruling, or controlling

Other Word Forms

• regental adjective
• regentship noun
• subregent noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of regent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin regent- (stem of regēns ), present participle of regere “to rule”

Word History and Origins

Origin of regent¹

C14: from Latin regēns ruling, from regere to rule

Example Sentences

Sidoarjo town's regent claims the school's management had not obtained permits for the expansion of the building.

From BBC

The UC regents will also meet next week for their first public discussions since the late July cuts.

From Los Angeles Times

The governor has appointed many but not all of the regents and sits as a voting member on the 24-person board.

From Los Angeles Times

The group held its first publicly announced meeting last week after an emergency convening of all regents Aug. 11.

From Los Angeles Times

Technically the privy council is not covered by the lese majeste law, which states that it is an offence to defame only the king, queen, heir to the throne or anyone acting as regent.

From BBC

Related Words

• ruler