26984 words

government

10 definitions • 27 examples
1
the group of people who officially control a country:

Examples:

the government of Israel
The government is/are expected to announce its/their tax proposals today.
The minister has announced that there will be no change in government policy.
Senior government officials will be attending a meeting tomorrow.
Theatre companies are very concerned about cuts in government grants to the arts.
A government enquiry has been launched.
2
the system used for controlling a country, city, or group of people:

Examples:

The 1990s saw a shift to democratic government in Eastern Europe.
What this state needs is really strong government.
3
the activities involved in controlling a country, city, group of people, etc.:

Examples:

The party that was elected to power has no experience of government.
in government UK The party was in government (= controlled the country) for four years in the 1960s.
4
the government of the UK:

Examples:

This is the decision of Her Majesty's Government.
5
the offices, departments, and groups of people that control a country, state, city, or other political unit:

Examples:

[ U ] She works for the government.
[ C ] The new tax law affects the budgets of both state and local governments.
6
Government is also a particular system of managing a country, state, city, etc.:

Examples:

[ U ] democratic government
7

Examples:

The two governments have signed an agreement.
This fiscal year would mark the third government surplus in a row for the first time in over 50 years.
a federal/central/local/government
government agency/department Some government agencies have worked well together to combat terrorist financing.
government policy/program/services
the Chinese/Italian/British government The Chinese government has implemented economic reforms.
8
the people, systems, etc. that manage or control a country or region:

Examples:

The goal is to identify opportunities to reduce the cost of government.
a democratic form of government.
The President spoke of restoring confidence in government.
9
to bring political parties together to make a government when none of them has received a large enough number of votes in an election to control the government:

Examples:

The former prime minister was seeking support from smaller parties to help form a government.
10
the government of a particular country, especially the country you are in or the one you have already referred to:

Examples:

The government is proposing changes to subsidies for renewable energy sources.
The figures are based on the government's survey of the labor force.

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