Government Definition
Contents
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English governement, < Old French, < Latin gubernatio (“management, government”), < Ancient Greek κυβερνισμός (kubernismos), κυβέρνησις (kubernēsis, “steering, pilotage, guiding”), < κυβερνάω (kubernaō, “I steer, drive, guide, pilot”) + -ment.
Pronunciation
- (RP) IPA: /ˈɡʌvənmənt/, SAMPA: /"gVv@nm@nt/
- (GenAm) IPA: /ˈɡʌvɚ(n)mənt/, SAMPA: /"gVv@`(n)m@nt/
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Audio (US) (file) -
Audio (UK) (file) - Hyphenation: gov‧ern‧ment
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.
- A group of people who hold a monopoly on the legitimate use of force in a given territory.
- The state and its administration viewed as the ruling political power.
- (uncountable) The management or control of a system.
- The tenure of a chief of state.
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Related terms
Usage notes
In the United States, "government" most often refers to the permanent body of the bureaucracy, courts, etc., what might be called the state in Britain. The British sense of "the government" is the prime minister and his cabinet ministers, what Americans would call an administration. In Canada government is used in both senses and neither state nor administration are used. Applied to many countries in continental Europe (when using English), the British usage is common.
Statistics
- Most common English words before 1923: according · walked · office · #600: government · particular · charge · church
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Government In Washington
Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:31:44 -0800
The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over its plans to introduce a PS26000-a-year cap on benefits. Lib Dem, Labour and crossbench peers backed a bishops' amendment to exempt child benefit from the cap, by 252 votes to 237.
Official web site of the State of Rhode Island. Includes information about history, government, business and employment, education, health, and recreation.
www.ri.gov