Word
Of
The
Day
regimen
regimen \REJ-uh-mun\
noun
Regimen refers to a plan or set of rules about food, exercise, etc., designed to make someone become or stay healthy.
// Sherry’s personal trainer started her on a workout
regimen of 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes of weight training.
See the entry >
Examples:
"The last step in a great antiaging skin care
regimen is, of course, sunscreen." — Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour, 27 Apr. 2026
Did you know?
Being but humble lexicographers, we cannot say whether an apple a day truly keeps the doctor away, but as far as regimens go, one could do a lot worse than snackin' on a McIntosh.
Regimen, which usually refers to a system of rules or guidelines—often for living a healthy life or taking a regular dose of exercise—comes ultimately from a Latin verb,
regere, meaning "to direct."
Regere led in apple-pie order to the English word
regimen, first by way of the Latin noun
regimen, meaning "steering" or "control," and then via the Medieval Latin
regimen, referring to a set of rules. Other
regere descendants fell further from the tree, including
correct,
erect,
region,
rule, and
surge. Be sure not to confuse
regimen with
regiment, which refers to a military unit, as doing so could upset the apple cart.