regent
Americannoun
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a person who exercises the ruling power in a kingdom during the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign.
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a ruler or governor.
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a member of the governing board of a state university or a state educational system.
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a university officer who exercises general supervision over the conduct and welfare of the students.
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(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
noun
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the ruler or administrator of a country during the minority, absence, or incapacity of its monarch
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(formerly) a senior teacher or administrator in any of certain universities
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a member of the governing board of certain schools and colleges
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rare any person who governs or rules
adjective
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(usually postpositive) acting or functioning as a regent
a queen regent
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rare governing, ruling, or controlling
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of regent
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin regent- (stem of regēns ), present participle of regere “to rule”
Explanation
In a monarchy, if the king gets too sick to rule his country, a regent steps in to run things temporarily. When kings or queens aren't able to do their jobs — because they're ill, or often because they are children — trusted advisers called regents fill in. You can think of a regent as a substitute monarch. There's also a more permanent kind of regent who helps to run a business or university and can also be called a trustee or board member. In Latin, regent means "ruling," from the verb regere, "to rule."
Vocabulary lists containing regent
Ancient Egypt - Introductory
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Mythology
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Ancient Egypt - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A similar UC measure to add another student regent failed five years ago.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
It was only blocked after pushback from USC and Michigan, where one regent branded the deal a “payday loan.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025
West Bandung regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail said his party had declared the mass poisoning in Cipongkor "an extraordinary event so that handling can be faster and more comprehensive".
From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025
“The regents will make this decision with the input of the governor,” said former regent George Kieffer, who chaired the board during the first Trump administration and ended his term in 2021.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 25, 2025
A day later, Piliso called us in and the first question he asked Justice was: Where is the permission from the regent for your brother?
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
