ancien régime

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation
  • (Received Pronunciation) enPR: (approximately): äɴsiăɴ ʀézhim, IPA(key): [ɑ̃siæ̃ ʁeʒim],[1]
  • (US) IPA(key): /ɑ̃.sjɛ̃ ɹeɪ.ˈʒim/

Noun

ancien régime (plural anciens régimes)

  1. (derogatory) A system of government long since 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.

Translations

References
  1. “‖ancien régime” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd Ed.; 1989]

French

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ɑ̃.sjɛ̃ ʁe.ʒim/

Noun

ancien régime m (plural anciens régimes)

  1. a former government

Usage notes

The term is used generically in French to refer to any previous government, without automatic negative connotations. In English, the term is generally used pejoratively.

Portuguese

Alternative forms

Noun

ancien régime m (plural anciens régimes)

  1. ancien régime (system of government long since supplanted by another)
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