Governance — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈgə-vər-nən(t)s/ gov·er·nance

Meaning & Definition of Governance

Governance (noun)

  1. the act or process of governing or overseeing the control and direction of something (such as a country or an organization), government

Governance (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation)

    "after World War II, the four Allied nations shared the governance of the territory of postwar Germany under the Allied Control Council"

    similar: administration, authority, government, jurisdiction, regime, regimen, rule
    related: reign, dominion, power, sovereignty, supremacy, sway, command, leadership, direction, management, regulation, superintendence, supervision, autocracy, dictatorship, domination, hegemony, mastery, oppression, subjugation, tyranny

  2. the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something

    "while a financial advisor can be helpful, the governance of your family finances ultimately rests with you"

    similar: administration, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision
    related: generalship, leadership, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation, coadministration, codirection, comanagement

Related Entry: Self-governance (noun)

Self-governance is a different word from Governance. The synonyms below are for self-governance, not for governance.

  1. the state of being free from the control or power of another

    "despite pessimistic predictions, self-governance has worked out well for the former colony"

    similar: autonomy, freedom, independence, independency, liberty, self-determination, self-government, sovereignty
    related: emancipation, enfranchisement, liberation, manumission, release
    opposite: dependence, heteronomy, subjection, unfreedom
    near: captivity, enchainment, enslavement, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, internment, subjugation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Governance

The most common words with a similar meaning to Governance:

administration, authority, government, jurisdiction, regime, regimen, rule, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision

Related Words for Governance

reign, dominion, power, sovereignty, supremacy, sway, command, leadership, autocracy, dictatorship, domination, hegemony, mastery, oppression, subjugation, tyranny, generalship, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering

Word Forms of Governance

Inflections: governances

Origin & Etymology of Governance

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Governance

Words & Phrases Containing Governance

self-governance

Frequently Asked Questions about Governance

What does "Governance" mean?

"Governance" means the act or process of governing or overseeing the control and direction of something (such as a country or an organization), government. As a noun, it is defined as: the act or process of governing or overseeing the control and direction of something (such as a country or an organization), government. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Governance"?

Other words for "Governance" include administration, authority, government, jurisdiction, regime, regimen, rule and care. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Governance" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Governance"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Governance". Common alternatives include administration, authority, government, jurisdiction, regime, regimen, rule, care, charge and conduct.

How do you use "Governance" in a sentence?

Examples of "Governance" in a sentence: "after World War II, the four Allied nations shared the governance of the territory of postwar Germany under the Allied Control Council"; "while a financial advisor can be helpful, the governance of your family finances ultimately rests with you".

Is "Governance" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Governance" is a noun.

Is "Governance" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Governance" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Governance"?

"Governance" is pronounced /ˈgə-vər-nən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as gov·er·nance.

What is the origin of the word "Governance"?

First known use: 15th century.