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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

AFP saw several residents of the small town of Mbay, in Nagekeo regency nearest the epicentre, camped out in makeshift tents they had erected using tarpaulins and poles.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

As part two of season four lands, actors from the sparkling regency drama tell BBC Newsbeat it's been "so special" to be part of the cast.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 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

There is no specific number of how many maleos are left in Mamuju regency or in West Sulawesi region.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 6, 2023

Joffrey is but twelve, and Robert gave you the regency, my lofd.

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

"We heard that medical assistance would be provided, but nothing has arrived yet," Rista Mari, a public relations officer at the Ruteng Regional General Hospital in Manggarai Regency, told the BBC.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 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

“She’s really not your average Regency heroine,” Quintrell says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

He was in the second-nicest suite at the Grand Regency, and he was a millionaire—for the month.

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

Bantam contains five native regencies or territorial divisions, namely, Serang, Anjer, Pandeglang, Charingin, Lebak.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3 "Banks" to "Bassoon" by Various

The historian refers to Cassiodorus, who compares the regencies of Placidia and Amalasuntha, to the disadvantage of the former.

From Women of Early Christianity by Alfred Brittain

These do not however bear a very close analogy to regencies in the stricter sense, or substitutions during the natural incapacity of the sovereign.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Henry Hallam