regent

noun

re·​gent ˈrē-jənt 

1

: a person who governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign

2

: a person who rules or reigns : governor

3

: a member of a governing board (as of a state university)

regent adjective

regental

ˈrē-jən-tᵊl 

adjective

Examples of regent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, that can impact how the whole institution is run on a day-to-day basis, as Congress has the power to shake up the Smithsonian’s board of regents. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Nov. 2026

Article continues below this ad Many faculty believe the policies went beyond the law’s mandate, and some hope a new set of regents could walk them back. — Samantha Ketterer, Austin American Statesman, 4 Nov. 2026

Acker, a forty-two-year-old Jewish Democrat, was in his first term as regent of the University of Michigan at the time. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026

Among them are Noah Arbit, a state representative; Mark Bernstein, a member of the University of Michigan board of regents; and several members of the leadership of Michigan’s Democratic Jewish Caucus, including its vice chair, David Kramer. — New York Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin regent-, regens, from Latin, present participle of regere to direct — more at right

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing regent

• vice-regent

Kids Definition

regent

noun

re·​gent ˈrē-jənt 

1

: a person who governs a kingdom when a monarch is not able to

2

: a member of a governing group (as of a state university)

regent adjective

Etymology

Middle English regent "one who governs," from early French regent or Latin regent-, regens (both, same meaning), from earlier Latin regens, a form of the verb regere "to lead straight, govern, rule" — related to rail entry 1, regulate, rule