regime
C1Formal, Academic, News, Political
Definition
Meaning
A system or method of government; a particular administration or ruling system.
Any systematic or ordered arrangement or pattern, such as a diet, exercise routine, or system of management.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word often implies an established, often authoritarian, system of rule. In non-political contexts, it can be neutral, describing a structured routine. The plural form is 'regimes'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English prefers the spelling 'regime' for both political and non-political meanings. American English uses 'regimen' more often for health/exercise routines, but 'regime' is also accepted and widely used for political systems.
Connotations
In both varieties, the political sense often carries a negative connotation of authoritarianism. In BrE, 'regime' is slightly more common for health routines than in AmE, where 'regimen' is preferred.
Frequency
Slightly more common in political/journalistic contexts in both varieties. AmE shows a stronger tendency to use 'regimen' for non-political contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[adjective] + regime[verb] + a/the + regimeregime + [verb]under + [possessive] + regimeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A new broom sweeps clean (when referring to a change of regime)”
- “The old regime (referring to a previous, often outdated, system)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a system of management or regulations, e.g., 'the new regulatory regime for banks.'
Academic
Used in political science, history, and sociology to describe systems of governance, e.g., 'the post-war regime in Japan.'
Everyday
Most commonly refers to a strict diet or exercise plan, e.g., 'She started a new fitness regime.'
Technical
In fields like engineering or environmental science, refers to a prevailing system or set of conditions, e.g., 'a river's flow regime.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He does not like the new school regime.
- The new manager introduced a strict work regime.
- People protested against the military regime.
- The collapse of the old regime led to a period of instability.
- Her skincare regime involves several expensive products.
- The sanctions were designed to undermine the authoritarian regime's economic stability.
- A change in the tax regime could significantly impact small businesses.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a REGal IME (I'm Emperor) – a king or emperor imposes a system or REGIME.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A MACHINE (A regime runs the country), LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD (A regime must be fought/strictly followed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'режим' for everyday schedules; use 'routine' or 'schedule' instead.
- In Russian, 'режим' is neutral for 'daily routine'. In English, 'regime' for this is formal and can sound severe.
- The political 'regime' in English is almost always negative, unlike the neutral Russian 'режим работы' (opening hours).
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing the 'g' as hard /g/ (it's /ʒ/).
- Using 'regime' for a simple daily routine in casual conversation (sounds overly dramatic).
- Misspelling as 'regieme'.
- Confusing 'regime' (system) with 'regimen' (planned routine, especially for health).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'regime' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Regime' is broader, often referring to governments or large systems. 'Regimen' almost exclusively refers to a prescribed, systematic plan for health, therapy, or training. In AmE, this distinction is stronger; in BrE, 'regime' can cover both.
No, but it often is in political contexts. In non-political contexts (e.g., 'beauty regime'), it is neutral, simply meaning a systematic plan.
It is pronounced like the 's' in 'pleasure' (the phoneme /ʒ/). The word sounds like 'ruh-ZHEEM' or 'ray-ZHEEM'.
No, 'regime' is only a noun. There is no standard verb form. You would use phrases like 'to govern' or 'to impose a regime'.
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