'post-regime-change' originates as a modern English compound combining the prefix 'post-' (from Latin 'post' meaning 'after') with 'regime' (from French 'régime') and the English noun 'change' (from Old French 'changier' ultimately from Late Latin 'cambiare'), forming a literal phrase meaning 'after a change of rule'.

'post-' was borrowed from Latin into English as a productive prefix meaning 'after'; 'regime' entered English via French 'régime' (itself from Latin/medieval forms of 'regimen' meaning 'rule' or 'government'); 'change' comes from Old French 'changier' and Late Latin roots meaning 'to exchange or alter'. The full hyphenated compound arose in modern political discourse (20th century onward) as analysts and journalists needed a concise label for the period following a regime change.

Initially, the component words had literal senses ('post' = after; 'regime' = system of rule; 'change' = alteration), and the compound has retained that literal combination but developed specialized usage in political science and journalism to refer to transitional conditions and policies after a government change.