Interregnum
noun /ˌɪntəˈrɛɡnəm/ — The uncertain gap between one order ending and another beginning.
Definition
A period when normal government or authority is suspended — originally the interval between two successive reigns; now applied to any period between established authorities, or more broadly, any gap between one phase and the next.
Beyond the definition
Interregnum is the word for the liminal period — after the old structure has fallen but before the new one is built. Political, personal, institutional: every interregnum has the same quality of suspended animation, of decisions deferred, of normal rules temporarily lifted. History suggests these periods are both dangerous and creative.
Origin & history
From Latin interregnum, from inter (between) + regnum (reign, rule). Originally specific to the period between Roman kings or rulers; later generalized to any interval of suspended authority.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The company spent a year in interregnum — the old CEO gone, no new one yet appointed.
The interregnum between empires is often the most violent period.
Her twenties felt like an interregnum — between the person she had been and the person she had not become yet.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Interregnum” when the meaning fits your context: A period when normal government or authority is suspended — originally the interval between two successive reigns; now applied to any period between established authorities, or more broadly, any gap between one phase and the next.
Synonyms
interim, gap, transition period, liminal period
Antonyms
continuity, established order, succession
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Empty Train Station Platform
An adult stands on a deserted railway station platform at dusk, leaving behind a long, empty shadow after the train departs.
The deserted station captures the feeling of an interregnum—a pause between two states or movements. The departed train signifies a gap in activity, representing the quiet, liminal period of waiting between one phase of transit and the next.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Interregnum" mean?
Interregnum is noun meaning: The uncertain gap between one order ending and another beginning.. A period when normal government or authority is suspended — originally the interval between two successive reigns; now applied to any period between established authorities, or more broadly, any gap between one phase and the next.
Where does the word "Interregnum" come from?
From Latin interregnum, from inter (between) + regnum (reign, rule). Originally specific to the period between Roman kings or rulers; later generalized to any interval of suspended authority.