government

noun, often attributive gov·ern·ment \ ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt , -və-mənt ; ˈgə-bᵊm-ənt , -vᵊm- \

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Examples: government in a Sentence

Definition of government

1 : the act or process of governing; specifically : authoritative direction or control

2 obsolete : moral conduct or behavior : discretion

3 a : the office, authority, or function of governing

b obsolete : the term during which a governing official holds office

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

5 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

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

(2) : administration 4b

7 : political science

studied economics and government

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governmental

play \ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl\ adjective

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governmentalize

play \ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-tə-ˌlīz\ transitive verb

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governmentally

play \ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē\ adverb

See government defined for English-language learners

See government defined for kids

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 of government from the Web

In the meantime, with both major political parties in the U.K. in terminal disarray, its government on the verge of collapse, and its relationship with Europe tainted, that Russian money is looking ever more well-spent.

— jonah shepp, Daily Intelligencer, "The Brexit Crisis Finally Engulfs the Party That Started It," 11 July 2018
Turkey is not an enemy state of Israel, but has certainly become a regional adversary under its successive Islamist governments that have supported Hamas and released highly provocative, hostile statements against Israel.

— yaakov lappin, Jewish Journal, "Turkey likely to get F-35 jets, despite Islamist pull," 11 July 2018
Under fire for alleged collusion with the Russian government, Trump responds by complaining about others who have Russia ties.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "Trump says “Germany is a captive to Russia.”," 11 July 2018
Ronan recently appeared in a video supporting the reproductive rights campaign—a long-growing grassroots movement that finally succeeded in pressuring the government to hold a referendum—and everyone is talking about it.

— jamie hawkesworth, Vogue, "Saoirse Ronan on Growing Up on Camera, the Changing Politics of Ireland, and Becoming a Queen," 11 July 2018
However, two years ago, SCBI, in collaboration with the Sahara Conservation Fund and the governments of Abu Dhabi and Chad, released the first round of oryx raised in captivity into the wild.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "New Artificial Insemination Technique Successfully Breeds Critically Endangered Scimitar-Horned Oryx," 10 July 2018
Last week, a federal judge in San Diego rejected the U.S. government's request for more time to reunite separated minors with their parents.

— rafael carranza, azcentral, "CBP: No family separations happening at border ports from zero-tolerance policy," 9 July 2018
For those Americans angered by their government’s cruel treatment of children as young as a few months old, this was a hard-fought victory.

— jessi hempel, WIRED, "Immigration Fight Shows Silicon Valley Must Stop Feigning Neutrality," 8 July 2018
Tardieu called on Lower Chamber President Gary Bodeau to reconvene their 117-members within the next 72 hours to resume a no-confidence vote on Lafontant and his government.

— jacqueline charles, miamiherald, "Haiti has put a fuel hike on hold. But is it enough to save the prime minister's job?," 7 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'government.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of government

see govern

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

government Synonyms

Synonyms

administration, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, governance, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision;

Related Words

generalship, leadership, rulership;

agency;

aegis (also egis), custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward;

engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation;

coadministration, codirection, comanagement;

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

GOVERNMENT Defined for English Language Learners

government

noun

Definition of government for English Language Learners

: the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc.
: a particular system used for controlling a country, state, etc.
: the process or manner of controlling a country, state, etc.

GOVERNMENT Defined for Kids

government

noun gov·ern·ment \ ˈgə-vərn-mənt , -vər-mənt \

Definition of government for Students

1 : control and direction of public business (as of a city or a nation)

The mayor makes decisions regarding the government of city departments.

2 : a system of control : an established form of political rule

a democratic government

3 : the people making up a governing body Their governments are committed to peace.

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governmental

\ˌgə-vərn-ˈmen-t-ᵊl, -vər-ˈmen-tᵊl\ adjective

Law Dictionary

government

noun gov·ern·ment \ ˈgə-vər-mənt, -vərn- \

legal Definition of government

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