regent

/ˈridʒənt/

/ˈridʒɪnt/

Other forms: regents

In a monarchy, if the king gets too sick to rule his country, a regent steps in to run things temporarily.

When kings or queens aren't able to do their jobs — because they're ill, or often because they are children — trusted advisers called regents fill in. You can think of a regent as a substitute monarch. There's also a more permanent kind of regent who helps to run a business or university and can also be called a trustee or board member. In Latin, regent means "ruling," from the verb regere, "to rule."

Definitions of regent

1. noun

   someone who rules during the absence or incapacity or minority of the country's monarch
   examples:

   Catherine de Medicis

   queen of France as the wife of Henry II and regent during the minority of her son Charles IX (1519-1589)

   type of:

   ruler, swayer

   a person who rules or commands
2. noun

   members of a governing board
   synonyms: trustee

   type of:

   committee member

   a member of a committee
3. adjective

   acting or functioning as a regent or ruler
   “prince-regent”

   synonyms:

   impactful, powerful

   having great power or force or potency or effect