government
/ˈɡʌv.ɚ(n).mənt/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: 5.57 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The body with the power to make and/or enforce laws to control a country, land area, people or organization.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The tenure of a head of government; the ministry or administration led by a specified individual.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
In a parliamentary system, the political party or coalition in power; its condition of being in power.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The team tasked with presenting and speaking in favour of a resolution, as opposed to the opposition.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "British government has historically centred exclusively on London."
- "[…]and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
- "Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return."
- "Near-synonyms: state, administration"
- "If the citizens must follow the law, then the government must follow the constitution."
- "Risk is everywhere. From tabloid headlines insisting that coffee causes cancer (yesterday, of course, it cured it) to stern government warnings about alcohol and driving, the world is teeming with goblins."
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek κυβερνάω (kubernáō)bor. Latin gubernāre Old French governer Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -ment Old French governementbor. Middle English governement English government From Middle English governement, from Old French governement (modern French gouvernement), from governer (see govern) + -ment. Morphologically govern + -ment. Displaced native Old English gerec, leodweard, ræden, rǣding and ealdordōm.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɡʌv.ɚ(n).mənt/
- British English: /ˈɡʌv.ə.mənt/
Usage
Inflected Forms
governments (plural)
gouernement (alternative, obsolete)
gub'mint (alternative, nonstandard)
gubmint (alternative, nonstandard)
gummint (alternative, nonstandard)
gubbamint (alternative, nonstandard)
guvmint (alternative, nonstandard)
guvment (alternative, nonstandard)
gumment (alternative, nonstandard)
guv'ment (alternative, nonstandard)
guv'mint (alternative, nonstandard)
gubberment (alternative, nonstandard)