'regime' originates from French, specifically the word 'régime', where the French form ultimately comes from Latin 'regimen' (from 'regere' meaning 'to rule').

'regime' passed into English from French 'régime' (borrowed in modern times), the French itself deriving from Medieval Latin 'regimen' and Latin 'regere'; over time the term entered English usage to refer to systems of rule or management.

Initially it meant 'direction' or 'a way of managing' (from Latin 'regimen'), but over time it evolved to commonly mean 'a government, especially an authoritarian one' and also retained senses related to systematic procedures or frameworks.