regimen

noun

reg·​i·​men ˈre-jə-mən 

also

ˈre-zhə- 

1

a

: a systematic plan (as of diet, therapy, or medication) especially when designed to improve and maintain the health of a patient

b

: a regular course of action and especially of strenuous training

the daily regimen of athletes

2

: government, rule

3

: regime sense 1c

Did you know?

Being but humble lexicographers, we cannot say whether an apple a day truly keeps the doctor away, but as far as regimens go, one could do a lot worse than snackin’ on a McIntosh. Regimen, which usually refers to a system of rules or guidelines—often for living a healthy life or taking a regular dose of exercise—comes ultimately from a Latin verb, regere, meaning “to direct.” Regere led in apple-pie order to the English word regimen, first by way of the Latin noun regimen, meaning “steering” or “control,” and then via the Medieval Latin regimen, referring to a set of rules. Other regere descendants fell further from the tree, including correct, erect, region, rule, and surge. Be sure not to confuse regimen with another of its kin, regiment, which refers to a military unit, as doing so could upset the apple cart.

Synonyms

• administration
• authority
• governance
• government
• jurisdiction
• regime
• régime
• rule

Examples of regimen in a Sentence

with the start of the new year, a new party will have regimen over the nation and, hopefully, bring some much-needed change

Recent Examples on the Web

The two-drug regimen can be used up to the first 70 days (10 weeks) of pregnancy, according to the FDA. —USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024

Mifepristone is the generic name of a pill that makes up half of the two-drug regimen used in medication abortions in the United States. —Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024

Finish off your regimen with Lancer Skin's Intensive Night Treatment, a night cream enriched with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and marula oil to moisturize and firm skin overnight. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Mar. 2024

Customize your regimen: Individual responses to laxatives and fiber will vary. —Suzanne Finkel, Verywell Health, 25 Mar. 2024

Exfoliation is an important step in any skincare routine — including your body regimen. —Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024

The two-drug regimen is used to end a pregnancy through 10 weeks gestation. —CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024

Access to the two-drug regimen is currently legal in some form in 36 states and Washington, D.C. —Jasmine Cui, NBC News, 1 Mar. 2024

The same regimen is also used for miscarriages, and those patients can now also obtain mifepristone from the pharmacy chains. —Pam Belluck, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin regimin-, regimen position of authority, direction, set of rules, from Latin, steering, control, from regere to direct

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

regimen

noun

reg·​i·​men ˈrej-ə-mən 

-ˌmen

1

: a regular course of treatment

2

: a form of government : rule

Medical Definition

regimen

noun

reg·​i·​men

ˈrej-ə-mən also ˈrezh-ə-

: a systematic plan (as of diet, therapy, or medication) especially when designed to improve and maintain the health of a patient