WordGarden.ioregime
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /reɪʒˈiːm/
US
- /reɪˈʒim/
Meanings
Noun
a government or ruling system, especially one seen as authoritarian
an organized system of rules, regulation, or management
a prescribed program of diet, exercise, or treatment
Beyond the definition
Imagine a ship sailing the high seas. The regime is like the captain's code: it is not just about who is in charge, but about the rules, habits, and methods that shape life on board. It is the whole system that guides how power is used and how things are done.
Most often, the word is used in politics. It describes a government or ruling system, often one seen as strict, controlling, or tied to a clear style of rule, such as a "military regime" or the "old regime." It can also be used more broadly for an organized way of doing something, as in a "fitness regime" or a "skincare regime." In both cases, the idea is the same: a set pattern that directs how things work.
The word regime refers to a system of rule, government, or established order within a society, organization, or way of life. At its core, it describes the "how" of control and management. In a political context, it often refers to a specific government or ruling system, and it frequently carries a negative tone, especially when the government is seen as strict, oppressive, or not fully democratic. Phrases like "regime change" or "the Ancien Régime" show how the word can point to a whole structure of power linked to a certain time or place.
Beyond government, regime can also describe a consistent and organized pattern of practice. You may see it in phrases like "exercise regime," "diet regime," or "skincare regime," where it means a regular system or plan. In some cases, especially in health or medicine, "regimen" is more common in modern English, but regime is still used in everyday writing and speech for a structured routine.
The key to understanding regime is to look beyond the people in charge and focus on the system around them. The word suggests structure, order, and control. Whether you are talking about the laws of a country or the steps of a training plan, regime points to the larger framework that shapes how things operate and how results are reached.
Examples
- 1
Military rule
Many people left the country during the military regime.
- 2
Press freedom
Journalists who criticized the regime were often arrested.
- 3
Political change
Life changed quickly after the fall of the old regime.
- 4
Tax rules
Small companies are still trying to understand the new tax regime.
- Domaintax regime
the set of tax rules in a place or system
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Health routine
Her doctor recommended a strict diet and exercise regime after the operation.
- Phrasediet and exercise regime
a planned routine that someone follows regularly
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- authoritarian regime
- military regime
- regime change
- the ruling regime
Word family
Explore
- authoritarianism
- state power
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- regimenoun
Forms
- regimespluralnoun