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
Government
: the executive branch of the U.S. federal government
c
Government
: 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)
(2)
: such a group in a parliamentary system constituted by the cabinet or by the ministry see also student government
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
c
: the particular system for or character of the governing authority of a political unit
a democratic/representative government
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
Synonyms of government
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
SpaceX has been investing heavily in reusable rockets, launch facilities and satellites, while competing for government contracts with newer space players, including Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
—
Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
An expert in open government called the recent events at a Sacramento County government meeting very troubling.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 Dec. 2025
The government had asked the court for permission to include the usually secret grand jury records in the files they are required to make public under the new federal law, which set a deadline of December 19 for their release.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
If the British government figure is even close to true, the El Fasher massacre would dwarf every other massacre in the 21st century.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for government
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
An expert in open government called the recent events at a Sacramento County government meeting very troubling.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 Dec. 2025
The government had asked the court for permission to include the usually secret grand jury records in the files they are required to make public under the new federal law, which set a deadline of December 19 for their release.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
If the British government figure is even close to true, the El Fasher massacre would dwarf every other massacre in the 21st century.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for government
Cite this Entry
“Government.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/government. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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