regent

[ ree-juh nt ]
/ ˈri dʒənt /

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

OTHER WORDS FROM regent

re·gent·al, adjective re·gent·ship, noun sub·re·gent, noun

Example sentences from the Web for regent

British Dictionary definitions for regent

regent
/ (ˈriːdʒənt) /

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 regent a queen regent
rare governing, ruling, or controlling

Derived forms of regent

regental, adjective regentship, noun

Word Origin for regent

C14: from Latin regēns ruling, from regere to rule