noun
interregnum
Interregnum (noun) means the time between one monarch's reign ending and the next one taking the throne.
noun
1
The time between one monarch's reign ending and the next one taking the throne.
"The Sasanian Interregnum of 628–632"
2
A pause or gap in something that would normally carry straight on.
"Another element leading to the quick-out-of-the-gate second Trump term took place during the four-year interregnum of President Joe Biden."
— Linda Feldmann, Understanding the Trump chaos: It’s about wielding executive power (2025)
3
The period between one minister leaving a church and a new one arriving.
4
The time between one leader's term ending and the next one's beginning, when normal government is paused or only temporary.
"Darker questions still emerge in these dusky final weeks of our interregnum."
— Peter Thiel, A time for truth and reconciliation (2025)
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Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin interrēgnum, from inter- (prefix meaning ‘between’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér (“between”)) + rēgnum (“reign; royal power”) (nominalized from the neuter of *rēgnus, from rēx (“king; ruler”, oblique stem rēg-) + -nus (suffix forming adjectives), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to righten; to straighten”)). The plural form interregna is a learned borrowing from Latin interrēgna.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of interregnum?
"interregnum" (noun) means the time between one monarch's reign ending and the next one taking the throne.
What is another word for interregnum?
Other words for "interregnum" include pause, cessation, halt, hiatus, moratorium, gap.
What are the different meanings of interregnum?
"interregnum" has 3 main meanings: 1. The time between one monarch's reign ending and the next one taking the throne; 2. A pause or gap in something that would normally carry straight on; 3. The period between one minister leaving a church and a new one arriving.
