nongovernmental

adjective

non·​gov·​ern·​men·​tal ˌnän-ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl 

: not of or relating to government or a particular government : not governmental

nongovernmental organizations/groups

Many people who are concerned about development are turning to nongovernmental methods of dealing with it.

—William H. MacLeish

Examples of nongovernmental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once Ebola began spreading in Congo, government officials and responders from nongovernmental organizations should have been able to work closely with the communities affected by the disease. — Stephanie Psaki, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026

Although the prisoner releases substantially reduced the number of people held for political reasons, nongovernmental organizations estimate that as many as 500 remain in detention. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

The Ecuadorian government, foundations, and nongovernmental organizations working in the archipelago are participating in the program. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

The family is planning to sue the United States and other governmental and nongovernmental entities in connection to Daphy's death. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nongovernmental

• coincidental
• developmental
• environmental
• experimental
• intersegmental
• transcontinental
• unsentimental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental