Regency

Noun

 * 1) A system of government that substitutes for the reign of a king or queen when that king or queen becomes unable to rule.
 * 2) The time during which a regent is in power.

Related terms

 * regent
 * regal
 * regalia

Thesaurus
absolute monarchy, aedileship, agency, agentship, archbishopric, archiepiscopacy, archiepiscopate, aristocracy, assignment, autarchy, authority, authorization, autocracy, autonomy, bishopric, brevet, care, chairmanship, chancellery, chancellorate, chancellorship, charge, chiefery, chiefry, chieftaincy, chieftainry, chieftainship, coalition government, colonialism, commission, commissioning, commitment, commonwealth, consignment, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, consulate, consulship, cure, deanery, delegated authority, delegation, democracy, deputation, devolution, devolvement, dictatorship, dictature, directorship, dominion rule, duarchy, duumvirate, dyarchy, embassy, emirate, empowerment, entrusting, entrustment, episcopacy, errand, executorship, exequatur, factorship, federal government, federation, feudal system, full power, garrison state, gerontocracy, governorship, headship, hegemony, heteronomy, hierarchy, hierocracy, home rule, jurisdiction, leadership, legation, license, lieutenancy, limited monarchy, lordship, magistracy, magistrateship, magistrature, mandate, martial law, masterdom, mastership, mastery, mayoralty, mayorship, meritocracy, metropolitanate, metropolitanship, militarism, military government, mission, mob rule, mobocracy, monarchy, neocolonialism, nobility, ochlocracy, office, oligarchy, pantisocracy, papacy, pashadom, pashalic, patriarchate, patriarchy, plenipotentiary power, police state, pontificality, pontificate, popedom, popehood, popeship, power of attorney, power to act, prefectship, prefecture, premiership, presidency, presidentship, prime-ministership, prime-ministry, princedom, princeship, principality, proconsulate, proconsulship, procuration, protectorate, protectorship, provostry, provostship, proxy, pure democracy, purview, rectorate, rectorship, regentship, representative democracy, representative government, republic, responsibility, ruling class, seigniory, self-determination, self-government, seneschalship, seneschalsy, sheikhdom, sheriffalty, sheriffcy, sheriffdom, shrievalty, social democracy, stratocracy, supervisorship, suzerainship, suzerainty, task, technocracy, thearchy, theocracy, totalitarian government, totalitarian regime, triarchy, tribunate, triumvirate, trust, trusteeship, tyranny, vicarious authority, vizierate, viziership, warrant, welfare state

Etymology
From rex/regere, and English abstract-noun suffix -ncy.

Translations

 * French: régence
 * Galician: rexencia
 * German: Regentschaft


 * Indonesian:
 * Manx: lhiass-reeaght
 * Russian: регентство