regent

noun re·gent \ ˈrē-jənt \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of regent

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)

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regent

adjective

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regental

play \ˈrē-jən-tᵊl\ adjective

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Recent Examples of regent from the Web

On the night of her arrest for drunken driving, Tormey, 45, of Fitchburg, had attended an evening dinner for the regents on the UW-Stout campus after the first day's meeting.

— karen herzog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'Inconclusive' sex harassment accusations swirled around former UW System executive," 30 Apr. 2018
Mallios received a certificate from chapter regent, Alida Woodward.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Group learns about area's first African-Amer. homesteader," 25 Apr. 2018
Contracts are typically reviewed annually The regents, who oversee the Arizona's three state universities, typically review the multiyear contracts of head football and basketball coaches annually.

— anne ryman, azcentral, "Sean Miller to forfeit $1 million if criminally charged or found guilty of NCAA violation," 3 Apr. 2018
Eighmy’s speech included lengthy thanks to University of Texas System regents, other presidents of UT institutions, and his family.

— silvia foster-frau, San Antonio Express-News, "UTSA inaugurates its sixth president, invoking a promising future," 20 Mar. 2018
The terms for the remaining two regents, Thomas Humphries and Kurt Kaufman, expire in September.

— karen farkas, cleveland.com, "Ohio Board of Regents cannot meet because Gov. John Kasich has not appointed new members," 26 Feb. 2018
In March, the regents approved a $978 increase in supplemental tuition for nonresident students, bringing their total for the next academic year to $28,992.

— teresa watanabe, latimes.com, "UC shelves tuition increase for now, in hopes of getting more state funding," 26 Apr. 2018
The regents had filed three separate motions to dismiss on various grounds.

— rachel leingang, azcentral, "Arizona university tuition lawsuit dismissed by court – a defeat for attorney general," 26 Apr. 2018
The system paid about $215 million for the land after UT's regents approved the deal in 2015.

— nancy sarnoff, Houston Chronicle, "UT System seeks buyers for 300 acres in Houston," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'regent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of regent

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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REGENT Defined for English Language Learners

regent

noun

Definition of regent for English Language Learners

: a person who rules a kingdom when the king or queen is not able to rule because he or she is sick, too young, etc.

REGENT Defined for Kids

regent

noun re·gent \ ˈrē-jənt \

Definition of regent for Students

: a person who temporarily governs a kingdom in place of a monarch

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