Etimology
From Middle English governement, from Old French governement (modern French gouvernement), from governer (see govern) + -ment. Morphologically govern + -mentDisplaced native Old English gerec, leodweard, ræden, rǣding and Old English ealdordōm.
noun
government (countable and uncountable, plural governments)
The body with the power to make and/or enforce laws to control a country, land area, people or organization.
(grammar, linguistics) The relationship between a word and its dependents.
The state and its administration viewed as the ruling political power.
(uncountable) The management or control of a system.
The tenure of a head of government; the ministry or administration led by a specified individual.
In a parliamentary system, the political party or coalition in power, as opposed to the opposition; the state of being in power.
(debating) The team tasked with presenting and speaking in favour of a resolution, as opposed to the opposition.
Ellipsis of government name, one's legal name according to a government.
Examples
British government has historically centred exclusively on London.
[…] and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.
Synonyms: regimen, rection
Coordinate terms: agreement, concord, concordance
If the citizens must follow the law, then the government must follow the constitution.
Risk is everywhere. From tabloid headlines insisting that coffee causes cancer to stern government warnings about alcohol and driving, the world is teeming with goblins.
The government of the Church is maintained without material alteration in a settled hierarchical form.
Whereas it is expedient to amend the law relating to the government of Her Majesty's Navy, whereon, under the good Providence of God, the wealth, safety and strength of the Kingdom so much depend:
The Sunak government announced plans to stem the flow of migrants coming into Great Britain.
Related words
synonyms
(administration, esp. over a country): administration, governance, management; statism (obs.)
hyponyms
big government
federal government
invisible government
local government
military government
minority government
municipal government
parliamentary government
petticoat government
puppet government
representative government
secret government
shadow government
unitary government
related terms
branch of government
branch of government
close enough for government work
govern
governance
government agent
government bond
government cheese
government debt
government house
Government House
government issue
government man
government note
government purchases
government security
government shutdown
government stroke
government wharf
governor
head of government
in government
seat of government