Government

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Government

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

GUV-un-munt  /ˈɡʌvənm(ə)nt/

Definition

The group of people with the authority to govern a country or state; the system by which a country or community is governed; the act or process of governing.

Plain meaning

Government is the organised system by which a country is ruled and administered — the group of people who hold power and make binding decisions for society.

Register

Neutral and formal in political and administrative contexts. Common in everyday speech when referring to the party or administration in power. In British English, government refers specifically to the party or coalition that holds executive power; the state is a broader concept.