reglementum

Reglementum is a Latin noun meaning a regulation, rule, or prescription issued by an authority. In historical Latin-language legal and administrative writings, reglementum denotes a formally issued set of rules designed to govern conduct, procedure, or organization within a jurisdiction or institution.

From regula (rule) and the suffix -mentum, the term signals a formal regulatory instrument rather than a loose guideline. It appears in a variety of contexts where authorities enact structured rules to organize governance, administration, or discipline.

Historically, reglementum was used across medieval and early modern Europe to describe edicts, statutes, and codes enacted by monarchs, city councils, churches, universities, and guilds. It might specify magistrates’ duties, enrollment requirements, financial obligations, disciplinary measures, or ritual procedures. In many cases, reglementa appear attached to a charter or as standalone documents, sometimes compiled into collections of laws.

In modern English, reglementum is rarely used; the concept is generally expressed as regulation or ordinance. The term survives primarily in scholarly editions of historical documents and in the literal Latin phrasing of some documents. Some languages have cognate terms, such as reglement or Reglement, carrying similar meanings in historical or formal contexts.