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government

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noun American English pronunciation: government /ˈɡʌvərnmənt/ 
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singulargovernment
pluralgovernments
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    [countable/uncountable] the people who control a country, region, or city and make decisions about its laws and taxes

    The Mexican government has announced its plans to raise the minimum wage next year.

    a democratically elected government

    federal/central government (=government for an entire country):

    The laws will take power from the federal government (=government for the whole country) and give it to state and local authorities.

    state/local government (=government for a state or city):

    The tax surplus is to be given to local governments to spend as they see fit.

    under a government (=during the government of a particular party):

    Under the Conservative government things were very different.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of government
    1. a.
      the members of the main political party in a legislature, or the members of the cabinet (=the group of politicians with the most important jobs) in a system with a legislature
      form a government (=choose the people who will have the most important jobs in the government):

      The party with an overall majority is then asked to form a government.

      coalition government (=in which members of different parties have important jobs in the government):

      The Congress Party is threatening to quit the coalition government.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of government
    2. b.
      [only before noun] relating to a government, especially a national government

      government employees

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of government
  2. 2
    [uncountable] the process, method, or effects of governing

    I'm not sure these reforms will necessarily lead to more effective government.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of government

This is the American English definition of government. View British English definition of government.

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View the pronunciation for government.

 

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