# government

## noun

gov·ern·ment
ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt

-və-mənt;

ˈgə-bᵊm-ənt,

-vᵊm-

often attributive

1

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

a

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

The government was slow to react to the crisis.

b

capitalized

**:**the executive branch of the U.S. 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)

(2)

**:**such a group in a parliamentary system constituted by the cabinet or by the ministry

2

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

She works for the federal government.

b

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

3

**:**the act or process of governing

specifically

**:**authoritative direction or control4

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

**:**rule

5

**:**political science

studied economics and government

6

a

**:**the office, authority, or function of governing

b

obsolete

**:**the term during which a governing official holds office7

obsolete

**:**moral conduct or behavior**:**discretionLove words? Need even more definitions?

Merriam-Webster unabridged
## Share