Origin: Latin suffix -ance
Governance has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something
"he claims that the present administration is corrupt"
"the governance of an association is responsible to its members"
"he quickly became recognized as a member of the establishment"
the act of governing; exercising authority
"regulations for the governing of state prisons"
"he had considerable experience of government"
The process, or the power, of governing; government or administration.
"The new committee was tasked with overhauling the university's governance to ensure greater transparency in how funds are allocated."
In plain English: Governance is the way leaders make rules and decisions to run an organization or country.
"The new laws on governance will take effect next month to improve how the city manages its resources."
Usage: Governance refers to the systems and processes by which an organization or community is run and decisions are made. Use this term when discussing the specific mechanisms of control rather than simply referring to the group of people in charge.
The word governance entered English through the path of Middle English and Old French. It originally carried the meaning of management or control, which remains its core definition today.