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• regency
  regency

  noun

  the office, jurisdiction, or control of a regent or body of regents exercising the ruling power during the minority, absence, or disability of a sovereign.
• Regency
  Regency

  noun

  (in the United Kingdom) the period (1811–20) during which the Prince of Wales (later George IV) acted as regent during his father's periods of insanity

regency

American  

[ree-juhn-see] / ˈri dʒən si /

noun

• regencies
  plural

1. the office, jurisdiction, or control of a regent or body of regents exercising the ruling power during the minority, absence, or disability of a sovereign.

2. a body of regents.

3. a government consisting of regents.

4. a territory under the control of a regent or regents.

5. the term of office of a regent.

6. (initial capital letter) the period (1811–20) during which George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, was regent.

7. (initial capital letter) the period of the minority of Louis XV.

8. the office or function of a regent or ruler.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a regency.

2. History/Historical. of or relating to the Regencies in England or France.

3. (often initial capital letter) of or relating to the style of architecture, furnishings, and decoration of the British Regency, somewhat similar to the French Directoire and Empire styles and characterized by close imitation of ancient Greek forms as well as by less frequent and looser adaptations of ancient Roman, Gothic, Chinese, and ancient Egyptian forms.

Regency ¹ British  

/ ˈriːdʒənsɪ /

noun

1. (in the United Kingdom) the period (1811–20) during which the Prince of Wales (later George IV) acted as regent during his father's periods of insanity

2. (in France) the period of the regency of Philip, Duke of Orleans, during the minority of Louis XV (1715–23)

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adjective

1. characteristic of or relating to the Regency periods in France or the United Kingdom or to the styles of architecture, furniture, art, literature, etc, produced in them

regency ² British  

/ ˈriːdʒənsɪ /

noun

1. government by a regent or a body of regents

2. the office of a regent or body of regents

3. a territory under the jurisdiction of a regent or body of regents

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• regencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of regency

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word rēgentia. See regent, -ency

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

regency Regency regencies

Images broadcast on Indonesian television showed hundreds of people in nearby Nagekeo regency evacuating the area from among the rubble of damaged buildings.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

Margo Price said "Love to see it" while Kacey Musgraves workshopped a few puns around the regency of Crow.

From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2025

Chaowalit was arrested in a raid at his apartment in Badung regency in Bali.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2024

If the king later recovered, the regency could be ended by a declaration of “cessation of incapacity.”

From New York Times ● Feb. 6, 2024

"Was it the regency? Has my brother named you Protector?"

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

"This is likely the village in Sikka Regency that suffered the worst damage from the earthquake."

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

These included the Sarimukti Landfill in Bandung Regency, which torched dozens of hectares of land, and was suspected of having been caused by cigarette butts and a buildup of methane gas.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name, it focuses on Mary Bennet, the couple's seemingly unremarkable middle daughter as she navigates the societal pressures of Regency England.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

Regency continued to operate the two locations until its lease ended in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

“The Grand Regency is expensive, Felix,” Georgie said, but she didn’t say no.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

They were spotted entering the regencies of Lhokseumawe, East Aceh, Pidie, Aceh Besar and Sabang in north Aceh province.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 20, 2023

There were in that period two regencies, two emperors, and no less than 74 presidents and acting presidents.

From Time Magazine Archive

Portugal, Tuscany, Naples, Venice, and Genoa, are now at war with those regencies.

From The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Volume X (of 12) by Various

Then a child Queen, and a long regency, and long regencies were dangerous.

From Space Viking by H. Beam Piper

In Spain, the two opposing regencies vied with each other in retaliatory Warring factions in Spain measures.

From A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year Volume Two (of Three) by Edwin Emerson