interregnum
Americannoun
-
interregnums,
plural
-
interregna
plural
-
an interval of time between the close of a sovereign's reign and the accession of their normal or legitimate successor.
-
any period during which a state has no ruler or only a temporary executive.
-
any period of freedom from the usual authority.
-
any pause or interruption in continuity.
noun
-
an interval between two reigns, governments, incumbencies, etc
-
any period in which a state lacks a ruler, government, etc
-
a period of absence of some control, authority, etc
-
a gap in a continuity
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of interregnum
First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin; originally “the period between the death of the old king and the accession of the new one,” equivalent to inter- preposition and prefix + regnum “office or power of a king, kingship, kingdom”; see origin at inter-, reign
Explanation
Interregnum describes the period between the reigns of two leaders. If you're a rebel leader, you may try to gain power during an interregnum. Pronounce interregnum with the accent on the third syllable: "in-ter-REG-num." It comes from Latin: inter- means "between" and regnum means "kingship, dominion, rule, realm." An interregnum can be marked by no government at all, or it can refer to a different kind of leadership between two similar regimes.
Vocabulary lists containing interregnum
Power Prefix: inter-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Renaissance and Early Modern European History - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: inter-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
After Epshteyn put in a good word for him, Trump’s team brought Blanche on to fight multiple prosecutions spanning from New York to Florida during the interregnum.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
While he was at the Center for Renewing America, the think tank he founded during his private sector interregnum, Vought indicated a few concrete ways he could push his vision.
From Slate ● Feb. 24, 2025
We have entered what I have come to think of as the Oscars’ interregnum, that anxious, frequently tedious period between the announcement of the nominees and the unveiling of the winners.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2024
Under the British constitution, a sovereign succeeds to the throne the moment his or her predecessor dies, before being proclaimed to the people, so there is no interregnum.
From Reuters ● Sep. 6, 2023
While blacks did win the right to vote when the Republican Party came to power three years later, and even served in various offices, the interregnum lasted less than a decade.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
For the remaining 80 the most disputable elements are the 71 years of interregna or of foreign dominations, and the 70 of the minor judges.
From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen
These disturbances usually account for the interregna which are so often found between the reigns of successive sovereigns.
From Japan by David Murray
For my own part, I prefer to retain the interregna; they alone, so far as we can see at present, being appropriate to the peculiar scheme of the Book of Judges.
From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen
For who wants a lawyer when there are so many interregna?
From The Letters of Cicero, Volume 1 The Whole Extant Correspodence in Chronological Order by Evelyn S. Shuckburgh
Private-sector stints were mere interregnums between political races and appointments, and every position of authority was a perch for aggressive bullying and showboating.
From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2025
Monarchies have always understood the importance of avoiding interregnums: the king is dead, long live the king!
From Economist ● Nov. 27, 2014
One who almost certainly could is Jean Cardinal Villot, the Camerlengo for both the papal interregnums.
From Time Magazine Archive
In these interregnums of order, Tlacaelel explained, the topmost brother linked himself to the sun, on which all living creatures depend.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
The list begins, like the Sanskrit tradition, with the first generation; three interregnums presuppose four periods.
From Chips From A German Workshop. Vol. III. Essays on Literature, Biography, and Antiquities by F. Max (Friedrich Max) Müller
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.
