government

noun

gov·​ern·​ment ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt How to pronounce government (audio)
-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:
(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 adjective
governmentalize transitive verb
governmentally adverb

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web In September, Congress reached a last-minute deal to fund the government through Nov. 17 just hours before it was set to shutdown. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023 Johnson's proposal to temporarily fund the government into the new year passed on a bipartisan 336-95 tally, but 93 Republicans voted against it. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Nov. 2023 Politics With a Tuesday vote to keep the government funded, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson became the latest House GOP speaker to require Democratic help — the same move that cost Kevin McCarthy his job. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023 So far this year, 145,000 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea — piled into smugglers’ boats unfit for sea voyage — compared to 88,000 during the same period last year, according to government figures. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 Nov. 2023 Red tape and slow processes shroud government work. WIRED, 15 Nov. 2023 Despite staunch conservative opposition, the House passed Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) two-step continuing resolution to keep the government funded just days before the shutdown deadline, sending it to the Senate, which is expected to pass the bill. Reese Gorman, Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2023 The former Soviet state has relied on U.S. funding to keep its government operational as Russia attempts to bludgeon its economy. Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023 The speaker of the House is supporting a continuing resolution to fund the government at current spending levels for a few months. The Editors, National Review, 14 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'government.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see govern

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of government was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near government

Cite this Entry

“Government.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/government. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

government

noun
gov·​ern·​ment ˈgəv-ər(n)-mənt How to pronounce government (audio)
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
government adjective
governmental adjective
governmentally adverb

Legal Definition

government

noun
gov·​ern·​ment ˈgə-vər-mənt, -vərn- How to pronounce government (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on government

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!