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government

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noun British English pronunciation: government /ˈɡʌvə(r)nmənt/ 
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singulargovernment
pluralgovernments
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    [countable/uncountable] the people who control a country, region, or town and make decisions about its laws and taxes: followed by a singular or plural verb

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

    a democratically elected government

    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 parliament, or the members of the cabinet (=the group of politicians with the most important jobs) in a system with a parliament
      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 Social Democrat Party is threatening to leave 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 British English definition of government. View American English definition of government.

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