interregnum

noun

in·​ter·​reg·​num ˌin-tə-ˈreg-nəm 

plural interregnums or interregna ˌin-tə-ˈreg-nə 

1

: the time during which a throne is vacant between two successive reigns or regimes

2

: a period during which the normal functions of government or control are suspended

3

: a lapse or pause in a continuous series

Did you know?

Every time a pope dies, there's an interregnum period before a new one is elected by the cardinals. In most democratic systems, however, the law specifies who should take office when a president or prime minister dies unexpectedly, and since the power usually passes automatically, there's no true interregnum. The question of succession—that is, of who should take over when a country's leader dies—has often presented huge problems for countries that lacked a constitution, and in monarchies it hasn't always been clear who should become king or queen when a monarch dies. The interregnum following the death of Edward VI in 1553, for instance, was briefly suspended when Lady Jane Grey was installed as Queen; nine days later she was replaced by Mary Tudor, who sent her straight to the Tower of London.

Synonyms

• discontinuity
• gap
• hiatus
• hiccup
• hiccough
• interim
• interlude
• intermission
• interruption
• interstice
• interval
• parenthesis

Examples of interregnum in a Sentence

the democratic regime proved to be a short-lived interregnum between dictatorships

Recent Examples on the Web

In Beijing and Moscow, leaders are anticipating the interregnum of the next few weeks and the start of Trump’s new term with a mix of anxiety and schadenfreude. —Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024

That makes the current interregnum the ideal time for escalation. —Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2024

The Italian political philosopher Antonio Gramsci famously warned that a great variety of morbid symptoms appear in the interregnum that occurs when the old is dying and the new cannot yet be born. —Firas Maksad, TIME, 26 Nov. 2024

When Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi began to slow down in the early part of the 2000s, there was an interregnum before Federer et al emerged. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 15 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from inter- + regnum reign — more at reign

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

interregnum

noun

in·​ter·​reg·​num ˌint-ə-ˈreg-nəm 

plural interregnums or interregna -nə 

: a period between two successive reigns or regimes