Definitions

government

[guhv-ern-muhnt, ‑er-muhnt] / ˈgʌv ərn mənt, ‑ər mənt /

NOUN

management, administration

Synonyms

STRONGEST

authority law ministry politics power regime rule state union

STRONG

Washington bureaucracy command control direction domination dominion empire execution executive governance guidance influence jurisdiction patronage polity predominance presidency regency regimentation regulation restraint sovereignty statecraft superintendence superiority supervision supremacy sway

WEAK

Uncle Sam political practice powers that be the feds

Antonyms

STRONG

inferiority opposition powerlessness submission subservience weakness

WEAK

anarchy chaos coup insurrection lawlessness mutiny revolt revolution

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It came out of the post-Watergate ’70s, when distrust of institutions was running high, but Spielberg directed most of that suspicion toward the government, not the alien visitors.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

As of November 17, 2025, Monarch Tracking was awarded the contract with Webb County, according to government records.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

Leaders of Western democracies mostly strive to project humility, relatability, and an aversion to corruption; the government is multibranched and by the people, after all.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

Following the strike, the Indian government had summoned the deputy head of the US mission in Delhi.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Three hours after the explosion at unit 1, the Japanese government had doubled the evacuation zone around the plant to 12.4 miles.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

Vocabulary lists containing government

Tax Day Words

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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 2

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"The Constitution"

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