government

noun

gov·​ern·​ment ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt 

-və-mənt;

ˈgə-bᵊm-ənt,

-vᵊm-

often attributive

1

: the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: such as

a

: the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency

The government was slow to react to the crisis.

b

capitalized : the executive branch of the U.S. federal government

c

capitalized : a small group of persons holding simultaneously the principal political executive offices of a nation or other political unit and being responsible for the direction and supervision of public affairs:

(1)

: administration sense 4b

(2)

: such a group in a parliamentary system constituted by the cabinet or by the ministry

2

a

: the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it

She works for the federal government.

b

: the complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out

3

: the act or process of governing

specifically : authoritative direction or control

4

: the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit : rule

5

: political science

studied economics and government

6

a

: the office, authority, or function of governing

b

obsolete : the term during which a governing official holds office

7

obsolete : moral conduct or behavior : discretion

governmental

ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl 

adjective

governmentalize

ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-tə-ˌlīz 

transitive verb

governmentally

ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• administration
• governance
• rule
• regime

Examples of government in a Sentence

The government has been slow to react to the crisis.

She works for the federal government.

We need to improve relations with foreign governments.

He is a firm believer in democratic government.

We learned about different methods of government.

The country has been damaged by many years of weak government.

Recent Examples on the Web

Civic education needs to be embraced and encouraged in families and civic associations and by government and other leaders in our society. —Hans Zeiger, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 July 2025

The Yemeni Coast Guard, which is loyal to the exiled government, has engaged in a firefight with at least one vessel in the Red Sea in the past as well. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 July 2025

Camp Mystic has two sites, both of which overlap with either the floodway or areas the federal government has determined have a 1% or 0.2% annual chance of flooding. —Renée Rigdon, CNN Money, 7 July 2025

The president continued posting similar letters to other foreign heads of government from Europe, Asia and Africa throughout the day, imposing the steepest tariff rates of 40% on Myanmar and Laos. —Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

see govern

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing government

• anti-government
• big government
• counter-government
• local government
• machine of government
• parliamentary government
• presidential government
• self-government
• student government
• sub-government

Rhymes for government

• antigovernment

Kids Definition

government

noun

gov·​ern·​ment ˈgəv-ər(n)-mənt 

ˈgəb-ᵊm-ənt,

ˈgəv-mənt

1

a

: the act or process of governing

especially : direction of a political unit

b

: the making of policy as distinguished from the administration of policy decisions

2

a

: the agency through which a political unit exercises authority

b

: manner of governing : the institutions, laws, and customs through which a political unit is governed

republican government

3

a

: the officials making up the governing body of a political unit

b

capitalized : the executive branch of the U.S. federal government

4

: political science

government adjective

governmental

ˌgəv-ər(n)-ˈment-ᵊl 

adjective

governmentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Legal Definition

government

noun

gov·​ern·​ment ˈgə-vər-mənt, -vərn- 

1

: the act or process of governing

specifically : authoritative direction or control

2

: the office, authority, or function of governing

3

: the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit : rule

4

a

: the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it

b

: the complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out

5

: the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: as

a

: the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency

b

capitalized : the executive branch of the U.S. federal government

c

: the prosecution in a criminal case in its capacity as agents of the political unit

the government failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

governmental adjective

governmentally adverb