/ ˌɪntəˈregnəm; NAmE / noun
[ usually sing. ] ( pl. inter·reg·nums ) ( formal ) a period of time during which a country, an organization, etc. does not have a leader and is waiting for a new one
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (denoting temporary rule between reigns or during suspension of normal government): from Latin , from inter- between + regnum reign.