queen regnant

American  

noun

1. a queen who reigns in her own right.

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queen regnant British  

noun

1. a queen who reigns on her own behalf

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Etymology

Origin of queen regnant

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

In the case of a queen regnant these posts are occupied by ladies, called Ladies of the Bed-chamber.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3 Atrebates to Bedlis by Various

Mary, our first queen regnant, was crowned at Westminster, Oct.

From Coronation Anecdotes by Gossip, Giles

I had rather be your running mate—Oh! you grand, lovable, vicious, merciless beast—than be queen regnant in heaven.

From The Song of the Wolf by Mayer, Frank

A queen gracious rather than a queen regnant; a queen to grant petitions rather than one to brush aside the petitioners.'

From The Fifth Queen Crowned by Ford, Ford Madox

It was once supposed, as a solution of this problem, that Sammuramat had governed alone for some time, as queen regnant, after the death of her husband.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 01 by Rudd, John