1
: the political and social system of France before the Revolution of 1789
2
: a system or mode no longer prevailing

Examples of ancien régime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Financial Capital The ancien regime has access to a tremendously high sum of money. Radu Magdin, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 This is not to say that Twitter’s ancien regime had everything right or that Musk can’t find actual ways to make Twitter profitable. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 11 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, old regime

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ancien régime was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near ancien régime

Cite this Entry

“Ancien régime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancien%20r%C3%A9gime. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

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