What does "interregnum" mean?
A period of time between the end of one monarch's reign and the accession of their successor.
Interregnum
/ɪntəˈɹɛɡnəm/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A period of time between the end of one monarch's reign and the accession of their successor.
- Grammar: interregnum is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: break, coffee break, disobedience, downtime.
- Useful contrasts: dynasty, papacies, premiership term.
- Usage evidence: The Sasanian Interregnum of 628–632
How to use "interregnum"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "interregnum" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "interregnum" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "interregnum" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "interregnum" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "interregnum" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "break" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "interregnum", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A period of time between the end of one monarch's reign and the accession of their successor.
"The Sasanian Interregnum of 628–632"
- 2 the time between two reigns, governments, etc. wordnet
- 3 A break in continuity; a gap, an intermission. broadly, figuratively
"Is it not Pelham who wonders what becomes of servants when they are not wanted;—whether, like the tones of an instrument, they exist but when called for? About servants we will not decide; but that some such interregnum certainly occurs in female existence on rising from table, no one can doubt who ever noted the sound of the dining and the silence of the drawing-room."
- 4 A period of time between when a minister or pastor leaves a church and when a new one is installed. broadly
- 5 A period of time between the end of one political leader's term and the start of the term of their successor; a period of time during which normal executive leadership is interrupted or suspended, and a polity is either left without leadership or has only a temporary one. broadly
"Darker questions still emerge in these dusky final weeks of our interregnum."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A temporary exercise of authority or rule during a period of time when there is no monarch or political leader. obsolete
Proper Noun
- 1 Ellipsis of British Interregnum, the period of 1649–1660 when an unmonarchical state ruled Britain; the monarchy was then restored. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"Meronyms: Commonwealth; Commonwealth of England; Protectorate; Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The Sasanian Interregnum of 628–632"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "interregnum"?
Common synonyms include: break, coffee break, disobedience, downtime, half time, holiday.
How do you use "interregnum" in a sentence?
The Sasanian Interregnum of 628–632
How do you pronounce "interregnum"?
Pronounced /ɪntəˈɹɛɡnəm/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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.
Etymology 2
Proprialization from interregnum.