The government of a country is the group of people who are responsible for governing it.
The Government has insisted that confidence is needed before the economy can improve.
...democratic governments in countries like Britain and the U.S..
...fighting between government forces and left-wing rebels.
Synonyms: administration, executive, ministry, regime More Synonyms of government
2. uncountable noun
Government consists of the activities, methods, and principles involved in governing a country or other political unit.
The first four years of government were completely disastrous.
...our system of government.
Synonyms: rule, state, law, authority More Synonyms of government
More Synonyms of government
government in British English
(ˈɡʌvənmənt, ˈɡʌvəmənt)
noun
1.
the exercise of political authority over the actions, affairs, etc, of a political unit, people, etc, as well as the performance of certain functions for this unit or body; the action of governing; political rule and administration
2.
the system or form by which a community, etc, is ruled
tyrannical government
3.
a.
the executive policy-making body of a political unit, community, etc; ministry or administration
yesterday we got a new government
b.
(capital when of a specific country)
the British Government
4.
a.
the state and its administration
blame it on the government
b.
(as modifier)
a government agency
5.
regulation; direction
6. grammar
the determination of the form of one word by another word
Derived forms
governmental (ˌɡʌvənˈmɛntəl, ˌɡʌvəˈmɛntəl)
adjective
governmentally (ˌgovernˈmentally)
adverb
government in American English
(ˈgʌvərnmənt; ˌgʌvərmənt)
noun
1.
a.
the exercise of authority over a state, district, organization, institution, etc.; direction; control; rule; management
b.
the right, function, or power of governing
2.
a.
a system of ruling, controlling, etc.
b.
an established system of political administration by which a nation, state, district, etc. is governed
we need honest government
c.
the study of such systems; political science
3.
all the people or agencies that administer or control the affairs of a nation, state, institution, etc.; administration
the election resulted in a new government
4. [oftenG-]
the executive or administrative branch of government of a particular nation as constituted by the political party or coalition in power
a Labor government in Great Britain
5. Rare
a governed territory
6. Grammar
the influence of one word over the case or mood of another
adjective
7.
of or relating to government
Derived forms
governmental (ˌgovernˈmental) US
adjective
governmentally (ˌgovernˈmentally) US
adverb
Word origin
OFr governement: see govern & -ment
COBUILD Collocations
government
incoming government
Examples of 'government' in a sentence
government
So she researched it on her phone and applied for the forms from the government website.
The Sun (2013)
The government should employ people like me.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The public came to hold governments responsible for national economies.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
Waiting for him were a menacing group of government officials and a policeman.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He said the government was to blame for the additional costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some things being urged on the government because the economy is apparently not growing are sensible.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is long overdue time to see some action where past governments failed.
The Sun (2010)
Some ministers may be allowed to remain to help form a new coalition government.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It attacks them because it knows that free and democratic governments will listen.
The Sun (2014)
The government is spending more on health.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The first duty of government is to protect the lives of its citizens.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Doubtless some form of government guarantee would be required.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Responsible governments have deployed this wealth by investing it and thereby diversifying their sources of income.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The body made its recommendations after receiving representations from the government and campaign groups.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It resulted in a basically feudal and totalitarian system of government that exists today in an adapted form.
Lewith, George & Horn, Sandra Drug-Free Pain Relief (1987)
The action represents a withdrawal of their goodwill after a constant battering of the justice system by the government.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The government body said most youngsters get through 60g a day.
The Sun (2016)
His left-wing government was elected vowing to end austerity.
The Sun (2015)
The British government says it does not pay ransoms.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Men have a right that these wants should be provided for by this wisdomEdmund BurkeReflections on the Revolution in France
As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation for itJohn Adams
The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their rulerConfuciusAnalects
In the long run every government is the exact symbol of its people, with their wisdom and their unwisdomThomas CarlylePast and Present
Government is either organized benevolence or organized madnessJohn UpdikeBuchanan Dying
It is perfectly true that that government is best which governs least. It is equally true that that government is best which providesmostWalter LippmannA Preface to Politics
Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable oneThomas PaineCommon Sense
Any system of government will work when everything is going well. It's the system that functions in the pinches that survivesJohn F. KennedyWhy England Slept
Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the ease with which the many are governed by the fewDavid HumeFirst Principles of Government
The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is governmentHenry Ward BeecherProverbs from Plymouth Pulpit
I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individualSamuel Johnson
There is no art which one government sooner learns of another than that of draining money from the pockets of the peopleAdam SmithThe Wealth of Nations
Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes themRonald ReaganSpeaking My Mind
In other languages
government
British English: government /ˈɡʌvənmənt; ˈɡʌvəmənt/ NOUN
The government of a country is the group of people who are responsible for running it.
The Government are forcing people out of jobs in this area.
American English: government
Arabic: حُكُومَة
Brazilian Portuguese: governo
Chinese: 政府
Croatian: vlada
Czech: vláda
Danish: regering
Dutch: overheid
European Spanish: gobierno
Finnish: hallitus
French: gouvernement
German: Regierung
Greek: κυβέρνηση
Italian: governo
Japanese: 政府
Korean: 정부 관청
Norwegian: regjering
Polish: rząd władza
European Portuguese: governo
Romanian: guvern
Russian: правительство
Latin American Spanish: gobierno
Swedish: regering
Thai: รัฐบาล
Turkish: hükümet
Ukrainian: уряд
Vietnamese: chính phủ
All related terms of 'government'
e-government
the provision of government information and services by means of the internet and other computer resources
big government
a form of government characterized by high taxation and public spending and centralization of political power
government bond
a bond issued by a country's government, in its own currency
government debt
A debt is a sum of money that you owe someone.
government man
(in the 19th century) a convict
open government
the doctrine that all government business should be open to regulation and scrutiny by the public
self-government
Self-government is government of a country or region by its own people rather than by others.
cabinet government
See parliamentary government Also : Cabinet government
central government
the government of a state or country
Federal Government
the national government of a federated state, such as that of Australia located in Canberra
government action
intervention by a government, esp to influence financial markets
government agency
An agency is a government organization responsible for a certain area of administration .
Government Broker
the government-appointed stockbroker whose job is to sell government securities on the stock exchange, as instructed by the Bank of England
government deficit
A government deficit is a situation in which a government spends more money than it has.
Government House
the official residence of a representative of the British Crown (such as a Canadian Lieutenant-Governor or an Australian Governor General) in a state or province that recognizes the British sovereign as Head of the Commonwealth
government housing
housing owned and managed by the federal or state government, which is rented out to tenants , esp as a form of affordable housing
government issue
supplied by a government or government agency
government money
Money is the coins or bank notes that you use to buy things, or the sum that you have in a bank account.
government policy
A policy is a set of ideas or plans that is used as a basis for making decisions , especially in politics , economics , or business.
government review
A review of a situation or system is its formal examination by people in authority. This is usually done in order to see whether it can be improved or corrected .
government stock
stock issued by the UK or another national government
government support
Financial support is money provided to enable an organization to continue . This money is usually provided by the government.
government target
A target is a result that you are trying to achieve .
local government
Local government is the system of electing representatives to be responsible for the administration of public services and facilities in a particular area.
coalition government
a government containing members of two or more political parties , usually because no party has an absolute majority
government corporation
a corporation set up by a national government to carry out business transactions on its behalf
government crackdown
A crackdown is strong official action that is taken to punish people who break laws.
government department
a sector of a national or state government that deals with a particular area of interest
government expenditure
the overall public spending carried out by the government
government initiative
An initiative is an important act or statement that is intended to solve a problem .
government monopoly
the exclusive control of the market supply of a product or service by the government
government securities
Securities are stocks , shares, bonds , or other certificates that you buy in order to earn regular interest from them or to sell them later for a profit .
incoming government
The government of a country is the group of people who are responsible for governing it.
military government
a government administered by a military commander following a coup d'é tat
national government
A national government is a government with members from more than one political party, especially one that is formed during a crisis.
government in waiting
a political group which is hoping to be elected to govern in the near future
parliamentary government
government by a body of cabinet ministers who are chosen from and responsible to the legislature and act as advisers to a nominal chief of state
presidential government
a system of government in which the powers of the president are constitutionally separate from those of the legislature
local government officer
an employee of a local council
government-owned corporation
a corporation set up by a national government to carry out business transactions on its behalf
Government Printing Office
(in the US) the government department that is in charge of disseminating official information from the legislative , executive , and judicial branches of the national government
national unity government
a government formed by a coalition of parties, esp in time of national emergency
Government Accountability Office
(in the US) a federal agency that ensures that the executive is accountable to Congress , and that the government as a whole is accountable to the country, esp in the way that taxes are spent
Ginnie Mae
Government National Mortgage Association : a federal agency which purchases mortgages from lending institutions with funds raised by the sale of government-backed securities
Chinese translation of 'government'
government
(ˈɡʌvnmənt)
n
(c) (= institution) 政府 (zhèngfǔ) (届, jiè)
⇒ The Government is in the wrong.是政府的错误。 (Shì zhèngfǔ de cuòwù.)
(u) (= act of governing) 执(執)政 (zhízhèng)
⇒ He had no previous experience of government.他以前没有执政的经验。 (Tā yǐqián méiyǒu zhízhèng de jīngyàn.)
cpd
[grant, report, official, policy]政府 (zhèngfǔ)
Govt
abbr
(= government) 政府 (zhèngfǔ)
1 (noun)
Definition
the state and its administration
The Government has insisted that confidence is needed before the economy can improve.
Synonyms
administration
He served in posts in both the Ford and Carter administrations.
executive
the executive of the National Union of Students
ministry
He disclosed that his ministry gave funds to parties in Namibia.
regime
the collapse of the fascist regime
governing body
powers-that-be
e-government or egovernment
2 (noun)
Definition
the system by which a country or state is ruled
our system of government
Synonyms
rule
the winding-up of British rule over the territory
state
The state does not collect enough revenue to cover its expenditure.
law
The law was passed on a second vote.
authority
This was a pretext for the authorities to cancel the elections.
administration
Standards in the administration of justice have degenerated.
sovereignty
governance
A fundamental change in the governance of the country is the key to all other changes.
dominion
They believe they have dominion over us.
polity
statecraft
3 (noun)
Synonyms
guidance
They improve their performance under the guidance of professional coaches.
control
The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory.
authority
The judge has no authority to order a second trial.
management
the responsibility for its day-to-day management
direction
The house was built under the direction of his partner.
command
the struggle for command of the air
regulation
They also have responsibility for the regulation of nurseries.
restraint
supervision
First-time licence holders have to work under supervision.
sway
How can mothers keep daughters under their sway?
domination
They had five centuries of domination by the Romans.
superintendence
subject word lists
See Types of government
Quotations
Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Men have a right that these wants should be provided for by this wisdom [Edmund Burke – Reflections on the Revolution in France]As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation for it [John Adams]The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler [Confucius – Analects]In the long run every government is the exact symbol of its people, with their wisdom and their unwisdom [Thomas Carlyle – Past and Present]Government is either organized benevolence or organized madness [John Updike – Buchanan Dying]It is perfectly true that that government is best which governs least. It is equally true that that government is best which provides most [Walter Lippmann – A Preface to Politics]Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one [Thomas Paine – Common Sense]Any system of government will work when everything is going well. It's the system that functions in the pinches that survives [John F. Kennedy – Why England Slept]Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the ease with which the many are governed by the few [David Hume – First Principles of Government]The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government [Henry Ward Beecher – Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit]I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual [Samuel Johnson]There is no art which one government sooner learns of another than that of draining money from the pockets of the people [Adam Smith – The Wealth of Nations]Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them [Ronald Reagan – Speaking My Mind]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of authority
Definition
a decision-making organization or government department
This was a pretext for the authorities to cancel the elections.
Synonyms
powers that be,
government,
police,
officials,
the state,
management,
administration,
the system,
the Establishment,
Big Brother (informal),
officialdom
in the sense of authority
Definition
the power to command, control, or judge others
The judge has no authority to order a second trial.