government

gov-ern-ment · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The system by which a state or community is governed.

  2. 2.

    The group of people who govern a country or state.

  3. 3.

    The act or process of governing.

  4. 4.

    The relation between a governed and a governing word (grammar).

Forms

plural: governments

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    government official — A person employed by the government.
  • •
    federal government — The national government.
  • •
    local government — Municipal or regional authority.
  • •
    form a government — Create an administration.
  • •
    government spending — Public expenditure.
  • •
    government agency — A department of the government.

Related words

Antonyms: anarchy
See also: govern, governor, politics, state
Synonyms: administration, authority, regime, state

Etymology

From Old French governement, from governer ("to govern"), from Latin gubernare ("to steer, direct, rule"), from Greek kybernan ("to steer").