Definition of "regnant" [reg•nant]

• Reigning; ruling: a queen regnant. (adjective)
• Predominant. (adjective)
• Widespread; prevalent. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• ""regnant" to be altogether satisfactory; and there are many similar extravagances and inaccuracies."
• "We cannot address the abortion problem without addressing our national sexual ethic, which has evolved from the ancient tradition that sex belongs in marriage, to the briefly regnant social norm that sex belongs in committed relationships, to the current standard that sex belongs wherever I want it to belong."
• "He was the spirit of regnant labor as he stood there, his hands outreaching to rend and crush his audience."