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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

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Etymology

Origin of regency

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

regency Regency regencies

Residents in Nagekeo regency, the area closest to the epicentre, raced for higher ground as the sea retreated -- a possible sign of an approaching tsunami, AFP journalists saw.

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

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

From New York Times ● Feb. 6, 2024

The plant is in the Bahodopi neighborhood of Morowali regency.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 25, 2023

Some thought the regency would be ended at once, others were dubious.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Meanwhile, the shuttle to the nearby Hyatt Regency LAX passed by five times, with a giant sticker saying guests at the other two airport Hyatts couldn’t hop on.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

The 10-episode series focuses on Mary Bennet, the couple's seemingly unremarkable middle daughter as she navigates the societal pressures of Regency England.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 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

Back when Regency operated the local Village and Bruin theaters in Westwood Village, she would often take advantage of the student discount and see as many movies as possible.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

I stay in Regency England as meals are served, while Ma sleeps on, and throughout Starry's chatting and laughter.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

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

The names best known to European and American traders are those of the regencies of Besoeki and Pasoeroean; because their coffees make up eighty-seven percent of Java's production.

From All About Coffee by William H. (William Harrison) Ukers

We greatly regret that the hostile disposition of those regencies toward this nation, who have never injured them, is not to be removed on terms in our power to comply with.

From Life and Times of Washington, Volume 2 Revised, Enlarged, and Enriched by John Frederick Schroeder

Tunis and Tripoli are regencies of the Port of Tunis, having an hereditary Bey, while Tripoli is a simple Pasha, removable at pleasure.

From Travels in Morocco, Volume 2. by James Richardson

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