regiment

IPA/ˈredʒɪmənt/

KK[rˈɛdʒəmənt]IPA/ˈredʒɪmənt/

regimentsingular
regimentsplural

1.nounB2

Definition

a named unit within an army, made up of several smaller groups of soldiers, or any collection of many similar people or items that operate together.

Example

The Highland Regiment marched through the city with their bagpipes playing.

military unit: specific named regiment

A whole regiment of local volunteers arrived to clean up the park after the storm.

regiment of + people: large organized group

Common collocations

command a regiment
serve in a regiment
join a regiment
a regiment of soldiers

Synonyms

battalion
a smaller military unit, usually part of a regiment
brigade
a larger military unit made up of several regiments
legion
a very large group, often with historical or dramatic tone
corps
a specialized branch of the military, larger than a regiment

Grammar Patterns

regiment + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Works both as a formal military term for a specific unit and as an informal way to describe any large, organized collection of similar items or people.

Common Mistakes

The army moved a regime to the front line.

The army moved a regiment to the front line.

'regime' refers to a system of government, not a military unit.

I saw a regiment of birds in the sky.' (too loose)

I saw a regiment of soldiers marching in perfect formation.

Use for organized groups, not random collections.

regimentpresent simple I / you / we / they
regiments3rd person singular
regimenting-ing form
regimentedpast simple

1.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to organize or control the activities of a person or group in a very strict and rigid way, allowing little freedom for individual choices.

Example

The summer camp regimented every minute of the children's day, from breakfast to bedtime.

regiment + time: controlling schedule in detail

Yara refused to let her new job regiment her life outside of office hours.

regiment + someone's life: controlling personal time

Common collocations

regiment time
regiment someone's life
tightly regimented
regiment the process

Synonyms

control
broader and more neutral; does not imply the rigidity of regiment
regulate
focuses on setting rules or standards rather than strict control of daily life
discipline
can mean training to follow rules, but also implies punishment
systematize
more neutral; focuses on creating order, not restricting freedom

Antonyms

free
to allow someone to act without restrictions
liberate
to set someone free from strict control

Grammar Patterns

regiment + noun phrase

be regimented

Usage Note

Almost always carries a negative or critical tone. The subject is typically an institution, system, or authority figure. Frequently appears in passive constructions.

Common Mistakes

The manager regimented the team.' (too vague)

The manager regimented the team's daily tasks down to the smallest detail.

The verb needs a specific object and context showing what was controlled.

2.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to force a group of people or things to become the same by applying the same rules, standards, or appearance to all of them, removing natural differences.

Example

The new policy regimented all office uniforms into the same gray suit and white shirt.

regiment + into: forcing sameness

Ezra worries that fast-food chains regiment the look and feel of every restaurant worldwide.

regiment + look/feel: standardizing appearance

Common collocations

regiment into
regiment appearance
regiment style
regiment design

Synonyms

standardize
more neutral; making things consistent without negative judgment
homogenize
similar meaning; often used for culture, products, or environments
normalize
making something fit a standard or norm, often in social contexts

Antonyms

diversify
to introduce variety or difference
differentiate
to make or show a difference between things

Grammar Patterns

regiment + noun phrase

regiment + noun phrase + into + noun phrase

Usage Note

Strongly negative connotation of losing individuality or variety. Often used in discussions about corporate standardization, urban planning, or education policy.

Common Mistakes

The law regimented people.' (too vague)

The law regimented the design of public buildings by requiring identical entrance layouts.

Specify what aspect is being made uniform.

3.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to officially place a soldier or a group of soldiers into a particular military regiment as part of their service.

Example

After basic training, the new soldiers were regimented into the 12th Armored Division.

passive: be regimented into a military unit

The command regimented all remaining troops into two defensive lines before dawn.

active: regiment troops into formation

Common collocations

regiment into
regiment with
regimented to a unit

Synonyms

assign
general term for giving someone a task or position; less specific than regiment
enlist
to join or cause someone to join the armed forces; the act of signing up, not placement
station
to send someone to a particular place for military duty

Grammar Patterns

be regimented into + noun phrase

be regimented with + noun phrase

Usage Note

Almost exclusively used in military contexts. The passive voice is very common because the soldier usually does not choose which regiment they join.

Common Mistakes

The officer regimented the supplies.

The officer regimented the new recruits.

This sense applies only to people being assigned to a regiment, not to objects.

Word family

regimented
adjectiveC1
regimentation
nounC1
regimental
adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve directing behavior or imposing order, but regiment carries the strongest negative tone of rigid, unwanted constraint. Control is the broadest, neutral term for directing something. Regulate implies setting rules or standards without necessarily dictating every detail of daily life. Discipline focuses on training someone to follow rules, often through punishment, but can also be self-directed. Systematize is neutral and purely about creating an efficient system rather than restricting freedom. For example, a school may regulate its admissions process and control the number of students, but it regiments them only if it dictates every hour of their day, every item of clothing, and every personal choice.

control ↗regulate ↗discipline ↗systematize ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

strictly regimented
tightly regimented
rigidly regimented

Phrases

a regiment of

Prepositions

into

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Regiment entered English in the 1300s from Old French 'regement', meaning 'rule or government'. That came from Late Latin 'regimentum', meaning 'direction or rule', which grew out of Latin 'regere' — 'to guide, direct, or rule'. The word first referred to the act of governing or ruling. By the late 1500s, it began to be used for a military unit, perhaps because a regiment was a body of soldiers under the 'rule' of a colonel. The modern verb senses — meaning to strictly control or standardize — grew from this military connection, but can now be used in any formal context.

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regiment

regiment — noun

1. a named unit within an army, made up of several smaller groups of soldiers, or a

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

regiment — verb

1. to organize or control the activities of a person or group in a very strict and

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to force a group of people or things to become the same by applying the same rul

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to officially place a soldier or a group of soldiers into a particular military

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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