A viceroy is a high-ranking official, usually appointed by a monarch or government, to rule over a particular territory on behalf of their home country. The term comes from the Latin phrase "vice regalis," which means "in place of a king." Viceroys were often given extensive powers and authority to govern the region they represented, and they acted as a representative of the larger political entity that appointed them. In some cases, viceroys served as the face of colonialism, ruling over territories acquired through conquest or treaty. Today, the term is sometimes used more broadly to refer to any powerful executive or leader in a particular field or industry.