government
C1 (Very High Frequency)Formal, but also used neutrally across most registers.
Definition
Meaning
The group of people with the authority to govern a country or state; the system by which a state or community is governed.
Can refer to the executive branch of a political entity, the body of individuals running that branch, the system of political administration itself, or the act or manner of governing or controlling.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly refers to a national-level body. The term "the Government" (capital G) typically refers to the current administration. Can also be used attributively in compounds like "government policy". Unlike some languages, it can be used with both singular and plural verbs depending on whether it's seen as a single body or a collection of individuals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, "government" often takes a plural verb when referring to the group of ministers (e.g., "The government are divided"). In the US, it almost exclusively takes a singular verb ("The government is divided"). The term "administration" is more common in US English to refer to a particular president's government.
Connotations
Both carry similar political connotations. In UK parliamentary systems, "Government" specifically refers to the party in power and its ministers.
Frequency
Used with very high frequency in both varieties with no significant difference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Government] + [Verb] (e.g., The government announced...)[Adjective] + [government] (e.g., a new government)[Verb] + [government] (e.g., to form a government)[government] + [of] + [country] (e.g., government of the United Kingdom)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A government of national unity”
- “Big government (derogatory, US)”
- “Nanny state (derogatory, UK)”
- “To be in government”
- “Shadow government (opposition's alternative cabinet)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Discussed regarding policy, regulation, taxes, contracts, and subsidies. (e.g., 'The new government regulations will impact our imports.')
Academic
Studied in political science, economics, and sociology. Often analyzed as an institution or system. (e.g., 'The study compares models of representative government.')
Everyday
Common in news and general conversation about politics, public services, and taxes. (e.g., 'The government is increasing the state pension.')
Technical
In law and political theory, precise distinctions are made between government, state, and governance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To govern is the prime minister's duty.
- The council governs the local affairs.
American English
- The constitution governs how laws are made.
- He struggled to govern the large state effectively.
adverb
British English
- This is governmentally mandated.
- The funds are distributed governmentally.
American English
- The project is funded governmentally and privately.
- It's a complex, governmentally regulated process.
adjective
British English
- A governmental review is underway.
- She works for a non-governmental organisation.
American English
- The governmental agency issued a warning.
- Inter-governmental talks are scheduled.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The government helps people.
- Our government is in London.
- He works for the government.
- The new government promised to reduce taxes.
- Local government is responsible for schools and roads.
- The government has announced a new health plan.
- After the election, it took weeks to form a coalition government.
- Public trust in the government has fallen significantly this year.
- The report was highly critical of the government's handling of the crisis.
- The intricacies of forming a minority government present a significant constitutional challenge.
- Their economic policy represents a fundamental shift in the role of government.
- The sheer scale of government procurement can distort entire market sectors.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GOVERN' + 'MENT' – the people who have the 'MENT' (mind) to 'GOVERN' (rule) a place.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A MACHINE ('the wheels of government'), GOVERNMENT IS A PARENT ('the nanny state'), GOVERNMENT IS A BUSINESS ('running the country').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'правительство' for all contexts – 'government' does not always mean 'правительство'. It can also correspond to 'государство', 'власть', 'органы власти', 'управление'. The phrase 'local government' is 'местное самоуправление', not 'правительство'.
- "Government spending" is not "правительственные траты" but "государственные расходы".
- The verb 'to govern' is 'управлять/править', not 'правительствовать'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'The government are bad.' (Acceptable in UK English, but often considered a mistake by learners who confuse singular/plural rules across dialects.)
- Incorrect: 'I work for a government.' (Usually 'the government' or 'the local government' unless speaking very generally.)
- Spelling mistake: 'goverment' (missing 'n').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'government' most likely to be used with a plural verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is countable when referring to specific ruling groups (e.g., 'successive governments'). It is uncountable when referring to the system or activity of governing (e.g., 'a system of government').
In the US, 'administration' often refers specifically to the executive under a particular president (e.g., the Biden Administration). 'Government' is the broader, permanent system. In the UK, 'the Government' is the standard term for the ruling executive body.
In British English, collective nouns like 'government', 'team', or 'family' can take a plural verb when the emphasis is on the individuals within the group. This is less common in American English, where the singular verb is standard.
In careful speech, it is pronounced /ˈɡʌvərnmənt/. In rapid, connected speech, especially in American English, the /n/ before /m/ is often elided or barely audible, making it sound like /ˈɡʌvərmənt/. Avoid pronouncing it as 'gover-ment'.