regime

regime — noun

1. a system by which a country is ruled, often one that gained power through force

1.nounB2
Definition

a system by which a country is ruled, often one that gained power through force rather than a free vote, and that depends on strict control instead of public approval

Example

The military regime collapsed after months of nationwide protests against its harsh policies.

military regime — describing an unelected ruling system

Under the new regime, citizens gained the right to vote in local elections.

under the + adjective + regime — common prepositional phrase

Common collocations
  • military regime
  • totalitarian regime
  • new regime
  • old regime
  • authoritarian regime
  • colonial regime
  • overthrow a regime
  • regime change
  • under the regime
Synonyms
  • government

    neutral term for the group of people who control a country

  • administration

    focuses on those in executive power during a particular period

  • authorities

    more formal; refers to the people or organizations in charge

Grammar Patterns

adjective + regime

under + article/determiner + regime

Usage Note

Often carries a negative or critical tone, suggesting a government that rules by force or without democratic legitimacy. 'Government' is neutral; 'administration' focuses on the executive branch during a particular period. 'Regime' implies a critical judgment about the system's fairness.

Common Mistakes

The regime of Canada is a constitutional monarchy.
The government of Canada is a constitutional monarchy.
'regime' sounds critical and is not used for well-established democracies in neutral contexts.
The new president changed the economic regime.
The new president changed the economic policy.
'regime' for economic policy is acceptable but very formal; 'policy' or 'system' is more natural in most contexts.

2. a particular set of rules, methods, or procedures for how a business, industry,

2.nounB2
Definition

a particular set of rules, methods, or procedures for how a business, industry, or other organization operates

Example

The company introduced a new tax regime that simplified its annual reporting process.

tax regime — noun + regime collocation for rules

Under the current regulatory regime, all banks must hold enough money to cover unexpected losses.

regulatory regime — describing a formal system of rules

Common collocations
  • tax regime
  • regulatory regime
  • legal regime
  • pricing regime
  • assessment regime
  • safety regime
  • financial regime
Synonyms
  • system

    broader, less formal; the most common alternative

  • framework

    emphasises the structure that holds rules together

  • set of rules

    more explicit; good for explaining to learners

Grammar Patterns

adjective + regime

noun + regime

Usage Note

Unlike the political sense, this meaning is neutral or even positive in tone. It is most common in formal writing about business, law, education, and public policy. For everyday routines, 'system' or 'arrangement' is more natural.

Common Mistakes

We need a new regime for cleaning the office every evening.
We need a new system for cleaning the office every evening.
'regime' sounds overly formal and political for everyday tasks.

3. a set of fixed habits covering what a person eats, how they move their body, or

3.nounB2
Definition

a set of fixed habits covering what a person eats, how they move their body, or what medicine they take, aimed at keeping them fit or helping them get better after being sick

Example

Her daily exercise regime includes thirty minutes of swimming followed by light stretching.

daily exercise regime — collocation for fitness routines

The doctor recommended a strict dietary regime for patients with high blood pressure.

strict dietary regime — medical advice collocation

Common collocations
  • exercise regime
  • dietary regime
  • fitness regime
  • skincare regime
  • treatment regime
  • recovery regime
  • strict regime
Synonyms
  • regimen

    the standard term for a health plan; more common than 'regime'

  • routine

    less formal, broader, used for everyday habits

  • program

    common in fitness and medical contexts

Grammar Patterns

adjective + regime

regime + of + noun

Usage Note

This sense overlaps with 'regimen', which is the more common word for health and diet plans. 'Regime' in this meaning is slightly more formal and less frequent. In everyday conversation, 'routine', 'program', or 'plan' is more natural.

Common Mistakes

She started a strict exercise regime and immediately ran ten kilometres.
She started a strict exercise regimen and gradually increased her running distance.
For health and fitness plans, 'regimen' is the standard word; 'regime' can sound like a political system.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Government' is the broad, neutral term for the group of people who control a country and make decisions about laws, taxes, and public services. 'Administration' typically refers to the people in executive power during a specific period — for example, 'the Obama administration'. 'Regime' differs from both because it usually carries a critical or negative tone, suggesting that the ruling system is unfair, repressive, or not democratically elected. You would say 'the Canadian government' (neutral), 'the current administration' (time-bound), but 'the military regime' (critical). A helpful rule: use 'government' for neutral description, 'administration' when naming a particular leader's term, and 'regime' only when you want to imply something is wrong with how the country is being ruled.

regime ↗government ↗administration ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • regime change
  • old regime
  • new regime
  • the fall of a regime
  • rise of a regime

Prepositions

  • under a regime
  • during a regime
  • within a regime

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'regime' entered English from French 'régime', which came from Latin 'regimen' meaning 'direction, rule, or guidance'. The Latin root 'regere' means 'to rule, direct, or guide' — the same root gives us 'regulate', 'regent', and 'regimen'. The political meaning appeared in English in the late 1700s, and the health-plan meaning developed later through overlap with the related word 'regimen'.