ancien régime

See also Ancien Régime

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (RP) enPR: (approximately): äɴsiăɴ ʀézhim, IPA: [ɑ̃siæ̃ ʁeʒim],X-SAMPA: [A_~si{_~ R\eZim]
• (US) IPA: /ɑ̃.sjɛ̃ ɹeɪ.ˈʒim/

Noun

ancien régime (plural anciens régimes)

1. (pejorative) 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.

References

---

French

Pronunciation

• IPA: /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.