government
11 synonyms and 1 antonym for government, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The group of people with the authority to run a country, state or other area, who make and enforce its laws and policies.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The group of people with the authority to run a country, state or other area, who make and enforce its laws and policies.
“The government announced an emergency cut in fuel duty.”
Opposites
2. noun
The system or method by which a place is governed.
“The colony was granted self-government in 1957.”
3. noun
The act of controlling and directing a country or organisation.
“Sound government requires more than good intentions.”
How to use government
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
In British English the government normally takes a plural verb when the members are meant ('the government are divided'); American English keeps it singular.
Etymology
Via Old French governement from Latin gubernare, 'to steer a ship, to direct', itself borrowed from Greek kybernan.
Full origin of government →