regency

[ ree-juh n-see ]

/ ˈri dʒən si /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR regency ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural re·gen·cies.

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.

a body of regents.

a government consisting of regents.

a territory under the control of a regent or regents.

the term of office of a regent.

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

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

the office or function of a regent or ruler.

adjective

of or relating to a regency.

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

(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.

Nearby words

Origin of regency

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for regency

Earlier this week, Regency Centers, a shopping center developer, sold $250 million in so-called green bonds.
The Bond Market Goes Green|The Daily Beast|May 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It began, for them all, with the urge to seek some form of liberty and escape the stultifying conventions of Regency England.
The Man Who Invented Vampires and the Creepiest Literary Gathering Ever|Emma Garman|November 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Scher set up a face-to-face meeting with John Edwards on September 18 at the Regency Hotel in New York City.
The Man Who Confronted Edwards About His Dangerous Infidelity Game|Diane Dimond|May 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Over drinks at the Regency that afternoon it was mutually decided that Miss Hunter would no longer travel with the candidate.
The Man Who Confronted Edwards About His Dangerous Infidelity Game|Diane Dimond|May 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The most likely scenario is a collective leadership that will rule in the name of the Kim family—in effect, a regency.
Report: Kim Jong-un Halts Military Exercises|The Daily Beast|December 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Lamartine raised his head and said: "I will oppose the Regency."
The Memoirs of Victor Hugo|Victor Hugo
She went to the vast Regency desk, idly fingering papers, and laid hold of a document.
The Pretty Lady |Arnold E. Bennett
The bank being approved of in this manner, it had next to be proposed to the regency council.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete|Duc de Saint-Simon
Many of the lords dreaded the long minority of the infant prince, and the government of the regency which would probably ensue.
The Empire of Russia|John S. C. Abbott
This, if successful, would destroy the control of the "Regency" over the electoral vote.
The Middle Period 1817-1858|John William Burgess

British Dictionary definitions for regency

regency

/ (ˈriːdʒənsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

government by a regent or a body of regents

the office of a regent or body of regents

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

Word Origin for regency

C15: from Medieval Latin regentia, from Latin regere to rule

Regency

/ (ˈriːdʒənsɪ) /

noun the Regency

(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

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

adjective

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for regency

regency

early 15c., "government by regents," from Medieval Latin regentia, from Latin regens (see regent). Notable instances were: France 1715-1723 (under Philip, Duke of Orleans), Britain 1811-1820 (under George, Prince of Wales, Prince Regent), "in each case with suggestion of debauchery" [Weekley]. In reference to the style of that time, attested from 1880 (there is an unexplained use in Jane Austen from 1793). Cf. French equivalent Régence, attested in English from 1919. U.S. Albany Regency refers to dominant political faction in New York state c.1820-1850.