# government

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡʌv.ɚ(n).mənt/ · frequency rank #240

## Definitions
1. The body with the power to make and/or enforce laws to control a country, land area, people or organization.
2. The relationship between a word and its dependents.
3. The state and its administration viewed as the ruling political power.
4. The management or control of a system.
5. The tenure of a head of government; the ministry or administration led by a specified individual.
6. In a parliamentary system, the political party or coalition in power; its condition of being in power.
7. The team tasked with presenting and speaking in favour of a resolution, as opposed to the opposition.
8. Ellipsis of government name, one's legal name according to a government.

## Etymology
From Middle English governement, from Old French governement (modern French gouvernement), from governer (see govern) + -ment. Morphologically govern + -ment. Displaced native Old English gerec, leodweard, ræden, rǣding and ealdordōm.

## Easily confused with
- **governments** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/government-vs-governments)
- **governmental** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/government-vs-governmental)
- **goverment** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goverment-vs-government)

## Common misspellings (16)
`ggovernment`, `goevrnment`, `govenrment`, `govermnent`, `governemnt`, `governmennt`, `governmentt`, `governmetn`, `governmment`, `governmnet`, `governnment`, `goverrnment`, `govrenment`, `govvernment`, `gvoernment`, `ogvernment`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/government