regnant
adjective
reg·nant ˈreg-nənt 
1
: exercising rule : reigning
2
a
: having the chief power : dominant
b
: of common or widespread occurrence
Did you know?
The origin of regnant is straightforward: it comes from the Latin verb regnare, meaning "to reign." Regnare, in turn, traces back to the noun regnum, meaning "reign." (Regnum was bestowed with the meaning "kingdom" in English.) These words ultimately descend from rex, the Latin for "king" and a word familiar to those who have read or seen the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Good luck with that: With too few exceptions, the Obama–Biden theory of Iran is the regnant Democratic theory of Iran. 
Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 19 Mar. 2022 The trope tends to elegize artists who are perceived to be ahead of their time or otherwise inimical to regnant conventions. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 19 July 2021 Their leaders speak with a regnant air, hammering the notion that their return to power is all but inevitable. Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2021 The people that once boldly threw off the tyranny of a distant monarch now seem to be meekly submitting to the diktats of a regnant class and ideology that tolerate less independence of thought and action than King George III did. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 12 Apr. 2021 The regnant ideology never cites real-world examples. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 19 Sep. 2020 According to the Telegraph’s Dalya Alberge, the cloth likely landed in Bacton thanks to the village’s association with Blanche Parry, one of the Tudor regnant’s longtime attendants. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 15 Aug. 2019 Contrast this with the regnant politics of today, on left and right. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 1 Aug. 2019 Individuals turn into data, and data become regnant. Henry A. Kissinger, The Atlantic, 15 May 2018 See More
Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 19 Mar. 2022 The trope tends to elegize artists who are perceived to be ahead of their time or otherwise inimical to regnant conventions. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 19 July 2021 Their leaders speak with a regnant air, hammering the notion that their return to power is all but inevitable. Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2021 The people that once boldly threw off the tyranny of a distant monarch now seem to be meekly submitting to the diktats of a regnant class and ideology that tolerate less independence of thought and action than King George III did. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 12 Apr. 2021 The regnant ideology never cites real-world examples. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 19 Sep. 2020 According to the Telegraph’s Dalya Alberge, the cloth likely landed in Bacton thanks to the village’s association with Blanche Parry, one of the Tudor regnant’s longtime attendants. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 15 Aug. 2019 Contrast this with the regnant politics of today, on left and right. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 1 Aug. 2019 Individuals turn into data, and data become regnant. Henry A. Kissinger, The Atlantic, 15 May 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin regnant-, regnans, present participle of regnare to reign, from regnum
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing regnant
regnant
adjective
as in dominant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dominant
- sovereign
- supreme
- predominant
- sovran
- cogent
- dominating
- eminent
- controlling
- momentous
- influential
- masterful
- authoritative
- important
- forceful
- weighty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weak
- helpless
- powerless
- incapable
- impotent
- unable