government
Etymology

From Middle English governement, from Old French governement (modern French gouvernement), from governer (see govern) + -ment.

Morphologically govern + -ment

Displaced native Old English gerec, leodweard, ræden, rǣding and Old English ealdordōm.

Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈɡʌvə(n)mənt/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈɡəvɚ(n)mənt/
  • (India) IPA: /ˈɡəv(ə)mɛnt/
  • (New Zealand) IPA: /ˈɡɐvɘ(n)mɘnt/, /ˈɡɐvmɘnt/
Noun

government

  1. The body with the power to make and/or enforce laws to control a country, land area, people or organization.
    British government has historically centred exclusively on London.
    • 1863 November 18, Abraham Lincoln, Dedicatory Remarks (Gettysburg Address)‎[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address_(Bancroft_draft)], near Soldiers' National Cemetery, →LCCN ↗, Bancroft copy, page 2:
      […] and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
  2. (grammar, linguistics) The relationship between a word and its dependents.
    Synonyms: regimen, rection
    Coordinate terms: agreement, concord, concordance (obsolete)
  3. The state and its administration viewed as the ruling political power.
    If the citizens must follow the law, then the government must follow the constitution.
  4. (uncountable) The management or control of a system.
  5. The tenure of a head of government; the ministry or administration led by a specified individual.
    The Sunak government announced plans to stem the flow of migrants coming into Great Britain.
  6. In a parliamentary system, the political party or coalition in power, as opposed to the opposition; the state of being in power.
  7. (debating) The team tasked with presenting and speaking in favour of a resolution, as opposed to the opposition.
  8. Ellipsis of government name, one's legal name according to a government.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations


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