regent

/ˈɹiːd͡ʒənt/

//ˈɹiːd͡ʒənt// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"regent" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“regent” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #16,109 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#16,109
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
17
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One who rules in place of the monarch, especially because the monarch is too young, absent, or disabled.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

regent vs rent
67% similar
regent vs reset
67% similar
regent vs Rogen
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for regent
PropertyValue
Headwordregent
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹiːd͡ʒənt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#16,109
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs17
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “regent” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). regent lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for regent is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹiːd͡ʒənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #16,109 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for regent, with forms such as "ergent", "reegnt", and "regennt". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 17 confusable-pair relationships, "rent", "reset", "Rogen", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English regent, from Anglo-Norman regent, Middle French regent, and their source, Latin regēns (“ruling; ruler, governor, prince”), present participle of regō (“I govern, I steer”). The correct English form is regent, spelled R-E-G-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who rules in place of the monarch, especially because the monarch is too young, absent, or disabled.
  2. 2
    Any ruler.
  3. 3
    A member of a municipal or civic body of governors, especially in certain European cities.
  4. 4
    A member of governing board of a college or university; also a governor of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
  5. 5
    The chief executive of a regency.

Etymology

From Middle English regent, from Anglo-Norman regent, Middle French regent, and their source, Latin regēns (“ruling; ruler, governor, prince”), present participle of regō (“I govern, I steer”).

This word in other languages

regente(Español)régent(Français)Regent(Deutsch)regente(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ergent,reegnt,regennt,regentt,regetn,reggent,regnet,rgeent,rregent

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of regent - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ergent2reegnt2regennt1regentt1regetn2reggent1regnet2rgeent2
Edit distance from "regent"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "regent"?
"regent" is spelled R-E-G-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹiːd͡ʒənt/.
What does "regent" mean?
As a noun, "regent" means: One who rules in place of the monarch, especially because the monarch is too young, absent, or disabled.
What words are commonly confused with "regent"?
"regent" is commonly confused with "rent", "reset", "Rogen". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "regent"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "regent" is /ˈɹiːd͡ʒənt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "regent"?
From Middle English regent, from Anglo-Norman regent, Middle French regent, and their source, Latin regēns (“ruling; ruler, governor, prince”), present participle of regō (“I govern, I steer”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “regent”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-G-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹiːd͡ʒənt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “rent” - see the side-by-side comparison. regent vs rent
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list