Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Government has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
"the government reduced taxes"
"the matter was referred to higher authorities"
the act of governing; exercising authority
"regulations for the governing of state prisons"
"he had considerable experience of government"
(government) the system or form by which a community or other political unit is governed
"tyrannical government"
the study of government of states and other political units
"She chose to major in political science because she wanted a career focused on the study of government of states and other political units."
The body with the power to make and/or enforce laws to control a country, land area, people or organization.
"The new government announced stricter regulations on emissions across the entire region."
In plain English: Government is the group of people who make and enforce the rules for a country or community.
"The new government announced plans to build more schools next year."
Usage: Use "government" to refer to the group of officials who run a country or organization and create its laws. It describes the collective leadership structure rather than individual politicians or specific departments within that system.
The word government comes from the Old French governement, which combined the verb to rule with a suffix meaning "action." This borrowed term replaced several native Old English words for leadership when it entered Middle English.