ancien régime

UK[ɑ̃siæ̃ ʁeʒim]US/ɑn.sjɛn ɹeɪˈʒim/

noun

A system of government that has been supplanted by another, particularly a state of feudalism with an absolute monarchy supported by the doctrine of divine right with the explicit consent of an established church.

“the Ancien Régime of Switzerland (1648–1798)”

Similar
old regime
OriginFrench ancien régime →
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Meanings

ancien régime1

nounancien régime (plural anciens régimes)

plural anciens régimes

  1. derogatorygovernmentA system of government that has been supplanted by another, particularly a state of feudalism with an absolute monarchy supported by the doctrine of divine right with the explicit consent of an established church.

    Synonyms: old regime

Ancien Régime2

proper nounthe Ancien Régime
  1. historicalThe aristocratic social and political system established in France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties, overthrown by the French Revolution of 1789.
  2. broadlyhistoricalAny other political system overthrown in the wake of the French Revolution.

    the Ancien Régime of Switzerland (1648–1798)

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA system of government that has been supplanted by another, particularly a state of feudalism with an absolute monarchy supported by the doctrine of divine right with the explicit consent of an established church.

Similar
old regime
Also see
ancient regimeold regime

Origin

ancien régime · noun

  1. Frenchancien régime“former rule, former order”
  2. Englishancien régime

From French ancien régime (“former rule, former order”); the term first appeared in English print in 1794.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Ancien Régime · proper noun

  1. FrenchAncien Régime
  2. EnglishAncien Régime

Borrowed from French Ancien Régime, from ancien (“former”) + régime (“rule, order”). The word first appeared in English in print in 1794.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch ancien régime
  • ancien régimesystem of government long since supplanted by another
Finnish vanha valta, ancien régime
  • vanha valtasystem of government long since supplanted by another
  • ancien régimearistocratic system in France before the French Revolution
French Ancien Régime
  • Ancien Régimearistocratic system in France before the French Revolution
German Ancien Régime
  • Ancien Régimearistocratic system in France before the French Revolution
Greek προηγούμενο καθεστώς, Παλαιό Καθεστώς
  • προηγούμενο καθεστώς (proïgoúmeno kathestós)system of government long since supplanted by another
  • Παλαιό Καθεστώς (Palaió Kathestós)aristocratic system in France before the French Revolution
Korean 앙시앵 레짐
  • 앙시앵 레짐 (angsiaeng rejim)aristocratic system in France before the French Revolution
Polish Ancien Régime
  • Ancien Régimearistocratic system in France before the French Revolution
Portuguese ancien régime, Ancien Régime
  • ancien régimesystem of government long since supplanted by another
  • Ancien Régimearistocratic system in France before the French Revolution
  • ancien régimearistocratic system in France before the French Revolution
Russian старый режим
  • старый режим (staryj režim)aristocratic system in France before the French Revolution
Spanish antiguo régimen, Antiguo Régimen
  • antiguo régimensystem of government long since supplanted by another
  • Antiguo Régimenaristocratic system in France before the French Revolution
Vietnamese chế độ cũ
  • chế độ cũsystem of government long since supplanted by another
Cite this entry
APA

ancien régime. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ancien%20r%C3%A9gime

MLA

“ancien régime.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ancien%20r%C3%A9gime. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ancien régime,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ancien%20r%C3%A9gime.

Source: ancien régime on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.