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
• authority
• governance
• jurisdiction
• regime
• régime
• regimen
• rule

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.

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Recent Examples on the Web

One of Pinto’s proposals — the Government Recruitment and Retention Act — would seek to fill critical vacancies up and down the ranks of D.C. government that could be affecting public safety, such as at the 911 call center. —Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023

But as the war in Ukraine has raged and a head-spinning series of military coups have overthrown governments from coast to coast in Africa, the UN’s role as a negotiator and mediator has been marginalized for the most part. —Farnaz Fassihi, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023

The political stalemate is expected to lead to a lapse in funding for the government. —Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023

Politics in Brief Congress: House Republicans reached a tentative agreement to temporarily prevent a government shutdown with a short-term deal, but its unlikely to pass the Senate. Election 2024: Nikki Haley is leaning into her foreign policy experience as part of a broader campaign theme. —Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 18 Sep. 2023

And while the federal government is doling out money to build more fast chargers — and Tesla is opening up some of its proprietary charging network to other drivers — progress is still slow. —Shannon Osaka, Emily Guskin, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2023

The campaign comes as several hard-line conservatives have established Ukraine aid as a redline amid the government spending fight, prompting stalled negotiations less than two weeks ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline. —Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2023

Amelia, whose day job is in human resources for a government contractor, formed an LLC about nine years ago. —Matt Wake | [e-mail], al, 18 Sep. 2023

The events of this week showed the limitations of that approach, leaving her in a quandary similar to that of previous Italian governments. —Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

see govern

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing government

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

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

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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