government 1 of 2

noun

ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt How to pronounce government (audio)
Definition of governmentnext
1
as in administration
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) government by the people, for the people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something a board involved in the government of the distribution of benefits to veterans

Synonyms & Similar Words

government

2 of 2

adjective

as in governmental

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of government
Noun
AfCRA will rate governments, cities and companies, and it is meant to complement the three US firms, which control 95% of global ratings markets. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Arton Capital is one of the firms advising Argentina’s government on the new program. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Some pro-government media in Serbia also referred to Mladić as a hero and questioned his treatment in The Hague. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Veiled pro-government supporters carrying flags take part in a ceremony commemorating the memory of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in downtown Tehran, Iran, on August 18, 2026. — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for government
  1. administration
  2. management
  3. governmental
  4. governance
  5. supervision
  6. federal
  7. rule
  8. operation
Noun
  • Her body was found while clearing rubble and fighting a fire at the site, Tymur Tkachenko, head of the regional military administration, said Friday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • With many in the party pushing for investigations of potential malfeasance by the administration, party leaders will face tough choices about consequences if those probes do turn up wrongdoing.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of administration
Noun
  • While some financial advisors have asset minimums, others may charge one-time, hourly or monthly fees rather than a percentage for assets under management.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • That’s because bank stocks are particularly difficult to forecast, given that their performance depends heavily on macro factors rather than information that management might have about the company.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of management
Adjective
  • Exhibitors include first responder agencies and non-governmental organizations that showcase new technologies, offer recruitment opportunities, and demonstrate local preparedness and disaster response capabilities.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • His case was also shared with the local district attorney, who has the authority to prosecute misuse of confidential governmental data, but the district attorney declined to pursue criminal charges, the audit said.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of governmental
Noun
  • Better lineage improves simulation quality, which produces better model behavior, which generates better outcomes and richer feedback, strengthening governance by exposing the gaps previous cycles missed.
    — Richard Clough, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • With the throne disengaged from governance, petitions and reports from officials piled up unread, crucial state posts went unfilled, and the imperial bureaucracy splintered amid poisonous factional infighting.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of governance
Noun
  • Kobzev said everyone who came into contact with the woman is under medical supervision.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • An investigation by The New York Times revealed that China and Iran have used Chinese open-source models to run propaganda campaigns through AI agents with limited human supervision.
    — RENÉE DIRESTA, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of supervision
Adjective
  • The state also has policies to prevent federal authorities from accessing motor vehicle and driver's license records of immigrants without a court order or search warrant.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In total, 96 groups across the country saw their funding expire at the end of the September, because of a reorganization in the way federal dollars are being distributed.
    — Ciara McCarthy October 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of federal
Noun
  • The country held no direct presidential elections between 1960 and 1989, a period that included military rule from 1964 to 1985.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The company disputes that 27 odor complaints since 2024 and 67 videos of work being done outside permitted hours referenced in a city staff report represent actual violations of the city’s noise, odor and operating hour rules.
    — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of rule
Noun
  • In Kremenchuk, in the Poltava region, two people were killed and seven injured, said Vitalii Diakivnych, head of the regional military administration, and a rescue operation was continuing.
    — SAMYA KULLAB, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Shamil Zhumatov | Reuters Russian internet giant Yandex suspended operations at one of its key data centers on Thursday after a drone strike as Ukraine continues to target the country's infrastructure.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of operation

Browse Nearby Words

governing
government
governmental
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/government. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on government

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about government

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Luddite

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All