regent

[ree-juh nt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR regent ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who exercises the ruling power in a kingdom during the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign.

a ruler or governor.

a member of the governing board of a state university or a state educational system.

a university officer who exercises general supervision over the conduct and welfare of the students.

(in certain Catholic universities) a member of the religious order who is associated in the administration of a school or college with a layperson who is its dean or director.

adjective

acting as regent of a country; exercising ruling authority in behalf of a sovereign during his or her minority, absence, or disability (usually used postpositively): a prince regent.

Origin of regent

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin regent- (stem of regēns), present participle of regere to rule

Related formsre·gent·al, adjectivere·gent·ship, nounsub·re·gent, noun

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

Examples from the Web for regent

Contemporary Examples of regent

The Regent movie theater, Albee Square Mall, and [record store] Beat Street are all gone.
Big Daddy Kane: The Hip-Hop MC on Las Supper, Madonna, Jay-Z, and What’s Next
Curtis Stephen
April 16, 2013
During his gubernatorial run in 2009, McDonnell saw his graduate thesis from Regent University emerge—and receive some scrutiny.
Mitt Romney’s Top Five Vice President Options, From Marco Rubio to Paul Ryan
Ben Jacobs
April 6, 2012
Among them Mica Mosbacher, who is now a regent at the University of Houston.
Anita Perry’s Political Baggage
Jacob Bernstein
October 13, 2011
“[Regent] taught me the real importance of being a Christian elected official,” he remarked.
Pat Robertson's Manchurian Candidate
Max Blumenthal
October 19, 2009

Historical Examples of regent

It was in vain; the Regent wished it; obedience was necessary.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon
Louville was the secret agent whom the Regent determined to send.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon
I was the first who had the 'grandes entrees' from the Regent.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon
These questions were communicated to the Regent by the King's officers.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon
He received permission from the Regent on certain conditions.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon

British Dictionary definitions for regent

regent

noun

the ruler or administrator of a country during the minority, absence, or incapacity of its monarch

(formerly) a senior teacher or administrator in any of certain universities

US and Canadian a member of the governing board of certain schools and colleges

rare any person who governs or rules

adjective

(usually postpositive) acting or functioning as a regenta queen regent

rare governing, ruling, or controlling

Derived Formsregental, adjectiveregentship, noun

Word Origin for regent

C14: from Latin regēns ruling, from regere to rule

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 regent

"one who rules during the minority or absence of a sovereign," c.1400, from the adjective (now archaic, attested in English late 14c.), from Old French regent and directly from Medieval Latin regentem (nominative regens), from Latin regens "ruler, governor," noun use of present participle of regere "to rule, direct" (see regal). Senses of "university faculty member" is attested from mid-15c., originally Scottish.