Government — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt/ gov·ern·ment

Meaning & Definition of Government

Government (noun)

  1. the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization
  2. the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency
  3. the executive branch of the U.S. federal government

Government (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "government by the people, for the people"

    similar: administration, authority, governance, 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

    "a board involved in the government of the distribution of benefits to veterans"

    similar: administration, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, governance, 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

Government (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in governmental

    similar: governmental, civic, federal, municipal, domestic, internal, intestine, civil, national, public, democratic, republican, nationwide
    opposite: nonnational, global, international, alien, external, foreign

Related Entry: Self-government (noun)

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

  1. government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation

    "self-government implies faith in the wisdom and essential goodness of the people"

    similar: democracy, republic, self-rule
    related: pure democracy, home rule, self-determination, autonomy, sovereignty
    near: despotism, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, totalitarianism, tyranny

  2. the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions

    "steely self-government was all that kept her from lashing out at the rude customer"

    similar: continence, restraint, self-command, self-containment, self-control, self-discipline, self-mastery, self-possession, self-restraint, will, willpower
    related: self-abnegation, self-denial, moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness, determination, nerve, command, control, discipline, mastery, abnegation, abstention, avoidance, eschewal, forbearance, abstinence, soberness, sobriety, aplomb, assurance, composure, confidence, coolness, equanimity, poise, self-confidence, discretion
    near: gratification, indulgence, self-indulgence, excessiveness, immoderacy, intemperance, intemperateness, overindulgence, demerit, failing, fault, feebleness, foible, frailty, shortcoming, vice, weakness, indiscipline, unconstraint, unreserve, unreservedness, unrestraint

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

    "championed self-government for the nation's indigenous peoples"

    similar: autonomy, freedom, independence, independency, liberty, self-determination, self-governance, 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 Government

The most common words with a similar meaning to Government:

administration, authority, governance, jurisdiction, regime, regimen, rule, care, charge, conduct, control, direction, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision, governmental, civic, federal, municipal, domestic, internal, intestine, civil, national, public, democratic, republican, nationwide

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Government

Words with the opposite meaning of Government:

nonnational, global, international, alien, external, foreign

Related Words for Government

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 Government

Derived words: governmental (adjective), governmentalize (transitive verb), governmentally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Government

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Government

Words & Phrases Containing Government

anti-government, big government, local government, parliamentary government, presidential government, self-government, student government, countergovernment

Frequently Asked Questions about Government

What does "Government" mean?

"Government" means the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Government"?

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

What are different ways to say "Government"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Government". Common alternatives include administration, authority, governance, jurisdiction, regime, regimen, rule, care, charge and conduct.

What is the opposite of "Government"?

Antonyms of "Government" include nonnational, global, international, alien, external and foreign.

How do you use "Government" in a sentence?

Examples of "Government" in a sentence: "government by the people, for the people"; "a board involved in the government of the distribution of benefits to veterans".

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

"Government" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

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

As an A2-level word, "Government" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Government"?

"Government" is pronounced /ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt/ and divided into syllables as gov·ern·ment.