Government
WordNet
noun
(1) The act of governing; exercising authority
"Regulations for the governing of state prisons"
"He had considerable experience of government"
(2) (government) the system or form by which a community or other political unit is governed
"Tyrannical government"
(3) The study of government of states and other political units
(4) The organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
"The government reduced taxes"
"The matter was referred to higher authorities"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From , < , < , < , , < + .
Noun
- The body with the power to make and/or enforce laws for 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.
- The management or control of a system.
- The tenure of a chief of state.
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.