government

noun, gov·ern·ment often attributive \ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt, -və-mənt; ˈgə-b^əm-ənt, -v^əm-\

: the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc.

: a particular system used for controlling a country, state, etc.

: the process or manner of controlling a country, state, etc.

Full Definition of GOVERNMENT

: the act or process of governing; specifically : authoritative direction or control

obsolete : moral conduct or behavior : discretion

a : the office, authority, or function of governing

b obsolete : the term during which a governing official holds office

: the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit : rule

a : the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it

b : the complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out

: the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: as

a : the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency

b capitalized : the executive branch of the United States federal government

c capitalized : a small group of persons holding simultaneously the principal political executive offices of a nation or other political unit and being responsible for the direction and supervision of public affairs: (1) : such a group in a parliamentary system constituted by the cabinet or by the ministry (2) : administration 4b

: political science

— gov·ern·men·tal \ˌgə-vər(n)-ˈmen-t^əl\ adjective

— gov·ern·men·tal·ize \-tə-ˌlīz\ transitive verb

— gov·ern·men·tal·ly \-t^əl-ē\ adverb

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