government

government — noun

1. The people who have the power to create laws and manage public affairs in a coun

1.nounA2
Definition

The people who have the power to create laws and manage public affairs in a country.

Example

The government announced a plan to build new hospitals across the country.

subject: the government + verb

Citizens voted for a new government during the national election in March.

Common collocations
  • coalition government
  • government official
  • government minister
  • government agency
Synonyms
  • administration

    more common in US English; often refers to a specific president's team

  • authorities

    plural; broader, includes police and regulatory bodies

  • regime

    often negative; suggests an undemocratic or strict government

Antonyms
  • opposition

    the political party or group that is not in power

Grammar Patterns

the government + singular/plural verb

Usage Note

In British English, government can take either a singular or plural verb. 'The government is...' treats it as a single unit; 'the government are...' emphasises the individual members.

Common Mistakes

The government are announce new policy.
The government has announced a new policy.
remember to use the correct verb form with 'the government' as subject.

2. A particular set of rules, institutions, and processes for directing a nation, c

2.nounB1
Definition

A particular set of rules, institutions, and processes for directing a nation, city, or community.

Example

In Japan's democratic government, citizens vote for members of parliament every four years.

adjective + government describing a system type

Under Chile's military government in the 1970s, the army controlled most major decisions in the country.

under + [type of] government

Common collocations
  • democratic government
  • authoritarian government
  • local government
  • system of government
  • form of government
Synonyms
  • system

    broader; can refer to any organised set of rules, not just political

  • political system

    more formal and specific to politics

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] government

a form/system of government

Usage Note

This sense is often modified by adjectives that describe the type of rule: democratic, authoritarian, federal, central, local, military, provisional.

Common Mistakes

Japan have a democratic government.
Japan has a democratic government.
use singular verb even when the country name sounds plural.

3. The ongoing work of running a country, including making decisions, creating laws

3.nounB2
Definition

The ongoing work of running a country, including making decisions, creating laws, and managing public services.

Example

When the transport minister proposed a new highway, the government faced tough budget choices about education.

government involves + [difficult choice]

In New Zealand, transparent government means citizens can read official reports explaining how ministers reached policy decisions.

transparent government + citizens can access information

Common collocations
  • in government
  • government spending
  • government policy
  • local government
  • open government
Synonyms
  • governance

    more formal; often used in academic or business contexts

  • administration

    can refer to the process of managing public affairs

Grammar Patterns

in government

the work of government

Common Mistakes

The government are the process of ruling.
Government is the process of ruling a country.
when referring to the activity, use uncountable 'government' without 'the'.

4. The official administrative body of a particular country or region, referred to

4.nounB1
Definition

The official administrative body of a particular country or region, referred to by name as a single institutional entity.

Example

The UK government signed a new trade agreement with Japan last December.

the [country name] government

The Indian government launched a program to provide clean water to rural villages.

Common collocations
  • [country] government
  • government spokesman
  • government official
Synonyms
  • administration

    common in US English for a presidential team; e.g. 'the Biden administration'

  • regime

    sometimes used for a specific government, but can carry a negative tone

Grammar Patterns

the [country/region] government

Common Mistakes

UK Government has...
The UK government has...
always include 'the' before the country-specific government name.

5. An academic subject that examines how political power is organised and how natio

5.nounB2
Definition

An academic subject that examines how political power is organised and how nations are run.

Example

Maeve is taking a class in government to understand how political systems work.

class/course in government

Professor Okafor has taught government at the university for over twenty years.

Common collocations
  • study of government
  • government class
  • government department
  • government major
Synonyms
  • political science

    more formal and precise; the standard name for this academic discipline

  • civics

    more basic; focuses on the rights and duties of citizens

Grammar Patterns

study + government

government + class/course

Usage Note

In this sense, government is uncountable and has no article. It is treated like a school subject name, similar to 'history' or 'economics'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Government is the most general word for the group that runs a country. Administration is common in American English and often refers to a specific president and their team (e.g., 'the Biden administration'). Regime has a narrower, often negative tone — it suggests a government that rules without democratic consent, especially one that is strict or unfair. Cabinet refers to a smaller group of senior ministers within a government who meet to make key decisions. Authority is broader and can include any official body with power to enforce rules, such as the police or a local council. For example, 'The government passed a new law', 'The regime crushed all opposition', and 'The cabinet met to discuss the budget' illustrate how each word fits a different context.

administration ↗regime ↗cabinet ↗authority ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • democratically
  • locally
  • centrally
  • federally

Phrases

  • form of government
  • branch of government
  • head of government
  • system of government
  • seat of government

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Government comes from Old French 'governement', meaning 'control, direction, administration'. The French word developed from Latin 'gubernare', which originally meant 'to steer a ship'. The Romans borrowed this verb from Greek 'kybernan' (to steer), and over time the steering metaphor was extended from guiding a ship to guiding a country. The word entered English in the 14th century and gradually took on its modern political meaning.