diff --git a/mongoengine/fields.py b/mongoengine/fields.py
index 25bf37ef..fd8236a6 100644
--- a/mongoengine/fields.py
+++ b/mongoengine/fields.py
@@ -157,10 +157,17 @@ class StringField(BaseField):
                 regex = r"%s$"
             elif op == "exact":
                 regex = r"^%s$"
+            elif op == "has_word":
+                regex = r"\b%s\b"
+            elif op == "regex":
+                regex = value
 
             # escape unsafe characters which could lead to a re.error
-            value = re.escape(value)
-            value = re.compile(regex % value, flags)
+            if op == 'regex':
+                value = re.compile(regex, flags)
+            else:
+                value = re.escape(value)
+                value = re.compile(regex % value, flags)
         return super().prepare_query_value(op, value)
 
 
diff --git a/mongoengine/queryset/transform.py b/mongoengine/queryset/transform.py
index 4c3d051b..375cceb4 100644
--- a/mongoengine/queryset/transform.py
+++ b/mongoengine/queryset/transform.py
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ STRING_OPERATORS = (
     "iendswith",
     "exact",
     "iexact",
+    "regex",
+    "iregex",
+    "has_word",
+    "ihas_word",
 )
 CUSTOM_OPERATORS = ("match",)
 MATCH_OPERATORS = (
diff --git a/tests/queryset/test_queryset.py b/tests/queryset/test_queryset.py
index 1a15a114..cde7dc10 100644
--- a/tests/queryset/test_queryset.py
+++ b/tests/queryset/test_queryset.py
@@ -1257,6 +1257,35 @@ class TestQueryset(unittest.TestCase):
         obj = self.Person.objects(name__iexact="gUIDO VAN rOSSU").first()
         assert obj is None
 
+
+        # Test has_word
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__has_word="Guido").first()
+        assert obj == person
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__has_word="rossum").first()
+        assert obj is None
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__has_word="Rossu").first()
+        assert obj is None
+
+        # Test ihas_word
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__ihas_word="rOSSUM").first()
+        assert obj == person
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__ihas_word="rOSSU").first()
+        assert obj is None
+
+        # Test regex
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__regex="^[Guido].*[Rossum]$").first()
+        assert obj == person
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__regex="^[guido].*[rossum]$").first()
+        assert obj is None
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__regex="^[uido].*[Rossum]$").first()
+        assert obj is None
+
+        # Test iregex
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__iregex="^[guido].*[rossum]$").first()
+        assert obj == person
+        obj = self.Person.objects(name__iregex="^[Uido].*[Rossum]$").first()
+        assert obj is None
+
         # Test unsafe expressions
         person = self.Person(name="Guido van Rossum [.'Geek']")
         person.save()
@@ -1341,7 +1370,12 @@ class TestQueryset(unittest.TestCase):
         person.save()
 
         people = self.Person.objects
-        people = people.filter(name__startswith="Gui").filter(name__not__endswith="tum")
+        people = people.filter(name__startswith="Gui")\
+            .filter(name__not__endswith="tum")\
+            .filter(name__icontains="VAN")\
+            .filter(name__regex="^Guido")\
+            .filter(name__has_word="Guido")\
+            .filter(name__has_word="van")
         assert people.count() == 1
 
     def assertSequence(self, qs, expected):