reign

The word “reign” means the period of time during which a monarch rules. In plain terms, to rule as a monarch, or (more loosely) to dominate a place or moment.

“Reign” is pronounced rayn (/ɹeɪn/ in IPA).

Here is “reign” used in a sentence: “The castle was built during the reign of Henry VIII.”

Depending on how it is used, “reign” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “reign” comes from Latin. From Old French reignier, from Latin rēgnō, related to rēgnum ("kingdom, rule").

“Reign” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Reign” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the period of time during which a monarch rules.

Reign means to rule as a monarch, or the period of a monarch's rule, while a rein is a strap used to control a horse. The two words sound identical, which is why phrases like "rein in" and "free rein" are so often misspelled with reign.

The standard idiom is free rein, meaning complete freedom to act, and it comes from horse riding: loosening the reins lets the horse move freely. "Free reign" is a common misspelling, although the mental image of unrestricted rule makes the error easy to understand.

To reign is to hold the position of monarch, while to rule is to actually exercise governing power. The distinction matters in constitutional monarchies, where it is often said that the monarch "reigns but does not rule" because day-to-day power lies with an elected government.

Yes. Reign also means to be the dominant or prevailing force in a place or situation, as in "chaos reigned" or "silence reigned over the hall". It is also common in sport, where the current title-holder is called the reigning champion.