Word definition: government

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

Data provided by Wiktionary