Reign vs. Rule — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on October 9, 2023
"Reign" typically refers to the period during which a monarch holds power, while "Rule" denotes the exercise of authority or control over subjects or areas.
Difference Between Reign and Rule
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Reign" and "Rule" are terms commonly used in governance and authority contexts, but they have distinct nuances. Reign is primarily used to describe the period or duration when a monarch, such as a king or queen, is in power. In contrast, Rule refers to the act of governing or the exercise of control, which can be by a monarch, dictator, government, or other authority figures.
When one speaks of a monarch's "Reign," they are referencing the specific timeframe of their leadership. "Rule," on the other hand, is more versatile and can refer to the specific methods, style, or actions taken by those in control.
It's essential to understand that while all monarchs reign, not all of them actively rule. A monarch might Reign, while the actual Rule or governance is carried out by ministers or advisors. On the other hand, many individuals or entities, like presidents or councils, Rule without having a Reign.
Historically, the "Reign" of certain monarchs is remembered either fondly or infamously based on the events that took place during their tenure. The "Rule," meanwhile, might be evaluated based on fairness, justice, and the policies implemented.
In literature, the "Reign" often conveys a sense of time and dynasty, whereas "Rule" might be used to depict the nature of dominance, control, and leadership methodologies.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Period during which a monarch is in power
Exercise of authority or control
Usage
Specific to monarchs
Applies to monarchs, governments, and other authority figures
Context
Time-oriented
Action-oriented
Example
The "Reign" of Queen Elizabeth II
The strict "Rule" of the dictator
Nuance
Conveys a sense of time and dynasty
Depicts the nature of control and governance
Compare with Definitions
Reign
The dominion held by a monarch.
Under her Reign, the kingdom flourished.
Rule
The exercise of control or authority.
He wanted to Rule without interference.
Reign
The period a monarch is in power.
King Louis XIV's Reign lasted for 72 years.
Rule
A prescribed guide for conduct.
The first Rule of the club is confidentiality.
Reign
The tenure of a leader.
His Reign as CEO was marked by innovative changes.
Rule
Governing power or its possession or use; authority.
Reign
A predominant or pervasive influence.
During the 1980s, disco's Reign was undeniable.
Rule
The duration of such power.
Reign
A reign is the period of a person's or dynasty's occupation of the office of monarch of a nation (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Andorra), of a people (e.g., the Franks, the Zulus) or of a spiritual community (e.g., Catholicism, Tibetan Buddhism, Nizari Ismailism). In most hereditary monarchies and some elective monarchies (e.g., Holy Roman Empire) there have been no limits on the duration of a sovereign's reign or incumbency, nor is there a term of office.
Rule
An authoritative, prescribed direction for conduct, especially one of the regulations governing procedure in a legislative body or a regulation observed by the players in a game, sport, or contest.
Reign
Hold royal office; rule as monarch
Queen Elizabeth reigns over the UK
Rule
The body of regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for governing the conduct of its members.
Reign
The period of rule of a monarch
The original chapel was built in the reign of Charles I
Rule
A usual, customary, or generalized course of action or behavior
"The rule of life in the defense bar ordinarily is to go along and get along" (Scott Turow).
Reign
Exercise of sovereign power, as by a monarch.
Rule
A generalized statement that describes what is true in most or all cases
In this office, hard work is the rule, not the exception.
Reign
The period during which a monarch rules.
Rule
(Mathematics) A standard method or procedure for solving a class of problems.
Reign
Dominance or widespread influence
The reign of reason.
Rule
A court decision serving as a precedent for subsequent cases
The Miranda rule.
Reign
To exercise sovereign power
Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901.
Rule
A legal doctrine or principle.
Reign
To hold the title of monarch, but with limited authority.
Rule
A court order.
Reign
To be predominant or prevalent
Panic reigned as the fire spread.
Rule
A minor regulation or law.
Reign
The exercise of sovereign power.
England prospered under Elizabeth I's reign.
Rule
A statute or regulation governing the court process
Rule of procedure.
Rule of evidence.
Reign
The period during which a monarch rules.
The reign of Victoria was a long one.
Rule
See ruler.
Reign
The territory or sphere over which a kingdom; empire; realm; dominion, etc. is ruled.
Rule
(Printing) A thin metal strip of various widths and designs, used to print borders or lines, as between columns.
Reign
(intransitive) To exercise sovereign power, to rule as a monarch.
He reigned in an autocratic manner.
Rule
To exercise control, dominion, or direction over; govern
Rule a kingdom.
Reign
To reign over (a country)
Rule
To have a powerful influence over; dominate
"Many found the lanky westerner naive, and supposed that he would be ruled by one of his more commanding cabinet officers" (William Marvel).
Reign
To be the winner of the most recent iteration of a competition.
Rule
To be a preeminent or dominant factor in
"It was a place where ... middle-class life was ruled by a hankering for all things foreign" (Amitav Ghosh).
Reign
To be a dominant quality of a place or situation; to prevail, predominate, rule.
Silence reigned.
Rule
To decide or declare authoritatively or judicially; decree
The judges ruled that the answer was acceptable. The police ruled the death a homicide. The law was ruled unconstitutional.
Reign
Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty; rule; dominion.
He who like a father held his reign.
Saturn's sons received the threefold reignOf heaven, of ocean, and deep hell beneath.
Rule
To mark with straight parallel lines.
Reign
The territory or sphere which is reigned over; kingdom; empire; realm; dominion.
[God] him bereft the regne that he had.
Rule
To mark (a straight line), as with a ruler.
Reign
The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the supreme authority; as, it happened in the reign of Elizabeth.
Rule
To be in total control or command; exercise supreme authority.
Reign
To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to exercise government, as a king or emperor;; to hold supreme power; to rule.
We will not have this man to reign over us.
Shall Banquo's issue everReign in this kingdom?
Rule
To formulate and issue a decree or decision.
Reign
Hence, to be predominant; to prevail.
Rule
To prevail at a particular level or rate
Prices ruled low.
Reign
To have superior or uncontrolled dominion; to rule.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.
Rule
(Slang) To be excellent or superior
That new video game rules!.
Reign
A period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful;
He was helpless under the reign of his egotism
Rule
A regulation, law, guideline.
All participants must adhere to the rules.
Reign
The period during which a monarch is sovereign;
During the reign of Henry VIII
Rule
A regulating principle.
Reign
Royal authority; the dominion of a monarch
Rule
The act of ruling; administration of law; government; empire; authority; control.
Reign
Have sovereign power;
Henry VIII reigned for a long time
Rule
A normal condition or state of affairs.
My rule is to rise at six o'clock.
As a rule, our senior editors are serious-minded.
Reign
Be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance;
Money reigns supreme here
Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood
Rule
(obsolete) Conduct; behaviour.
Reign
The duration of supremacy.
The Reign of the Roman Empire spanned centuries.
Rule
(legal) An order regulating the practice of the courts, or an order made between parties to an action or a suit.
Rule
(math) A determinate method prescribed for performing any operation and producing a certain result.
A rule for extracting the cube root
Rule
A ruler; device for measuring, a straightedge, a measure.
Rule
A straight line continuous mark, as made by a pen or the like, especially one lying across a paper as a guide for writing.
Rule
A thin plate of brass or other metal, of the same height as the type, and used for printing lines, as between columns on the same page, or in tabular work.
Rule
(obsolete) Revelry.
Rule
To regulate, be in charge of, make decisions for, reign over.
Rule
To excel.
This game rules!
Rule
(intransitive) To decide judicially.
Rule
(transitive) To establish or settle by, or as by, a rule; to fix by universal or general consent, or by common practice.
Rule
(transitive) To mark (paper or the like) with rules lines.
Rule
To revel.
Rule
That which is prescribed or laid down as a guide for conduct or action; a governing direction for a specific purpose; an authoritative enactment; a regulation; a prescription; a precept; as, the rules of various societies; the rules governing a school; a rule of etiquette or propriety; the rules of cricket.
We profess to have embraced a religion which contains the most exact rules for the government of our lives.
Rule
Uniform or established course of things.
'T is against the rule of nature.
Rule
Systematic method or practice; as, my ule is to rise at six o'clock.
This uncivil rule; she shall know of it.
Rule
The act of ruling; administration of law; government; empire; authority; control.
Obey them that have the rule over you.
His stern rule the groaning land obeyed.
Rule
An order regulating the practice of the courts, or an order made between parties to an action or a suit.
Rule
A determinate method prescribed for performing any operation and producing a certain result; as, a rule for extracting the cube root.
Rule
A general principle concerning the formation or use of words, or a concise statement thereof; thus, it is a rule in England, that s or es , added to a noun in the singular number, forms the plural of that noun; but "man" forms its plural "men", and is an exception to the rule.
Rule
A straight strip of wood, metal, or the like, which serves as a guide in drawing a straight line; a ruler.
A judicious artist will use his eye, but he will trust only to his rule.
Rule
A thin plate of metal (usually brass) of the same height as the type, and used for printing lines, as between columns on the same page, or in tabular work.
Rule
To control the will and actions of; to exercise authority or dominion over; to govern; to manage.
A bishop then must be blameless; . . . one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection.
Rule
To control or direct by influence, counsel, or persuasion; to guide; - used chiefly in the passive.
I think she will be ruledIn all respects by me.
Rule
To establish or settle by, or as by, a rule; to fix by universal or general consent, or by common practice.
That's are ruled case with the schoolmen.
Rule
To require or command by rule; to give as a direction or order of court.
Rule
To mark with lines made with a pen, pencil, etc., guided by a rule or ruler; to print or mark with lines by means of a rule or other contrivance effecting a similar result; as, to rule a sheet of paper of a blank book.
Rule
To have power or command; to exercise supreme authority; - often followed by over.
By me princes rule, and nobles.
We subdue and rule over all other creatures.
Rule
To lay down and settle a rule or order of court; to decide an incidental point; to enter a rule.
Rule
To keep within a (certain) range for a time; to be in general, or as a rule; as, prices ruled lower yesterday than the day before.
Rule
A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior;
It was his rule to take a walk before breakfast
Short haircuts were the regulation
Rule
Something regarded as a normative example;
The convention of not naming the main character
Violence is the rule not the exception
His formula for impressing visitors
Rule
Prescribed guide for conduct or action
Rule
(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
Rule
A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct;
Their principles of composition characterized all their works
Rule
A rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system;
The principle of the conservation of mass
The principle of jet propulsion
The right-hand rule for inductive fields
Rule
The duration of a monarch's or government's power;
During the rule of Elizabeth
Rule
Dominance or power through legal authority;
France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa
The rule of Caesar
Rule
Directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted;
He knew the rules of chess
Rule
Any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order;
The rule of St. Dominic
Rule
(mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems;
He determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs
He gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials
Rule
Measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
Rule
Exercise authority over; as of nations;
Who is governing the country now?
Rule
Decide with authority;
The King decreed that all first-born males should be killed
Rule
Be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance;
Money reigns supreme here
Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood
Rule
Decide on and make a declaration about;
Find someone guilty
Rule
Have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
Rule
Mark or draw with a ruler;
Rule the margins
Rule
Keep in check;
Rule one's temper
Rule
To dominate or prevail.
The team continued to Rule the league.
Rule
A principle or regulation governing behavior.
According to school Rule, uniforms are mandatory.
Rule
To make a legal determination.
The judge will Rule on the case tomorrow.
Common Curiosities
How is "Rule" different from "Reign"?
"Rule" denotes the exercise of control or authority, not limited to monarchs.
Is "Reign" only used in a historical or royal context?
Mostly, but "Reign" can also mean a dominant influence in other contexts.
Can "Rule" refer to a set principle or regulation?
Yes, a "Rule" can be a guideline or principle governing behavior.
Can a president be said to "Reign"?
Generally, "Reign" is reserved for monarchs, so a president would "Rule" or govern.
What does "Reign" primarily signify?
"Reign" typically refers to the period a monarch holds power.
Can "Rule" also mean a legal decision?
Yes, to "Rule" can mean making a legal determination.
How would you describe a monarch's style of leadership?
One might refer to their "Rule" to describe their leadership style.
Do all monarchs actively "Rule" during their "Reign"?
Not always. Some monarchs reign, but governance is carried out by others.
Which term is more versatile: "Reign" or "Rule"?
"Rule" is more versatile, applying to various acts of governance.
Does "Reign" only refer to positive periods?
No, a "Reign" can be remembered either fondly or infamously.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
