regime

/rɛˈʒim/

/rəˈʒim/

Other forms: regimes

A regime is the ruling government of a country. The amount of freedom and restriction that citizens of a country have can change from regime to regime.

Regime takes its militaristic and government feel from the Latin word regimen "to rule." A political regime has a negative association to it that makes you think of totalitarian governments. How did it come to mean "diet" or "program of exercise" as well? If you are put on a regime of exercise and healthy eating, you are ordered by a doctor to do these things and it probably feels like you're being ruled sometimes!

Definitions of regime

1. noun

   the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
   synonyms: authorities, government

   types:

   authoritarian regime, authoritarian state

   a government that concentrates political power in an authority not responsible to the people

   bureaucracy

   a government that is administered primarily by bureaus that are staffed with nonelective officials

   ancien regime

   a political and social system that no longer governs (especially the system that existed in France before the French Revolution)

   court, royal court

   the sovereign and his advisers who are the governing power of a state

   Downing Street

   the British government

   empire

   a group of countries under a single authority

   federal government

   a government with strong central powers

   government-in-exile

   a temporary government moved to or formed in a foreign land by exiles who hope to rule when their country is liberated

   local government

   the government of a local area

   military government, stratocracy

   government by the military and an army

   palace

   the governing group of a kingdom

   papacy, pontificate

   the government of the Roman Catholic Church

   puppet government, puppet regime, puppet state

   a government that is appointed by and whose affairs are directed by an outside authority that may impose hardships on those governed

   state

   the group of people comprising the government of a sovereign state

   state government

   the government of a state in the United States

   totalitarian state, totalitation regime

   a government that subordinates the individual to the state and strictly controls all aspects of life by coercive measures

   Court of Saint James's

   the British royal court

   Porte, Sublime Porte

   the Ottoman court in Constantinople

   Soviets

   the government of the Soviet Union

   welfare state

   a government that undertakes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens through programs in public health and public housing and pensions and unemployment compensation etc.

   municipal government

   the government of a municipality

   town meeting

   government of a town by an assembly of the qualified voters

   U.S., U.S. government, US Government, United States, United States government

   the executive and legislative and judicial branches of the federal government of the United States

   type of:

   polity

   a politically organized unit
2. noun

   (medicine) a systematic plan for therapy, often including diet
   synonyms: regimen

   type of:

   plan, program, programme

   a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished