interregnum

noun

in·​ter·​reg·​num ˌin-tə-ˈreg-nəm 

plural interregnums or interregna ˌin-tə-ˈreg-nə 

1

: the time during which a throne is vacant between two successive reigns or regimes

broadly : a period during which a leadership role is vacant

a papal interregnum

2

: a period during which the normal functions of government or control are suspended

3

: a lapse or pause in a continuous series

Did you know?

Every time a pope dies, there's an interregnum period before a new one is elected by the cardinals. In most democratic systems, however, the law specifies who should take office when a president or prime minister dies unexpectedly, and since the power usually passes automatically, there's no true interregnum. The question of succession—that is, of who should take over when a country's leader dies—has often presented huge problems for countries that lacked a constitution, and in monarchies it hasn't always been clear who should become king or queen when a monarch dies. The interregnum following the death of Edward VI in 1553, for instance, was briefly suspended when Lady Jane Grey was installed as Queen; nine days later she was replaced by Mary Tudor, who sent her straight to the Tower of London.

Synonyms of interregnum

• interval
• interruption
• hiatus
• gap
• interim

Examples of interregnum in a Sentence

the democratic regime proved to be a short-lived interregnum between dictatorships

Recent Examples on the Web

Any talks would require an end to PayPal’s interregnum. —Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Charli might just be in a low-stakes, post-breakthrough interregnum, exploring whims without putting too much pressure on herself. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026

The Cold War was ending, apartheid was collapsing, the global war on terror hadn’t yet begun—an American interregnum. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2026

The men around Khamenei know that the interregnum will be a moment of maximum vulnerability. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 17 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from inter- + regnum reign — more at reign

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for interregnum

• regnum

Kids Definition

interregnum

noun

in·​ter·​reg·​num ˌint-ə-ˈreg-nəm 

plural interregnums or interregna -nə 

: a period between two successive reigns or regimes