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

Under a new state law, regents appointed by the governor have increased oversight of classroom instruction, hiring and discipline. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Peter Onyisi, a professor of physics at UT Austin, asked regents during public testimony at Thursday’s meeting. —Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026

The University of Texas will open a new school focused on AI and computing research in the fall, after regents approved its creation earlier this month. —Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026

With a trial pending, Wolff’s legal team discovered that UCI Health had destroyed video footage of the initial surgery as well as internal messages between Wang and the staff concerning Wolff’s condition, according to a motion for sanctions against the regents board. —Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 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