government

gov|ern|ment

W1S2 [ˈgʌvəmənt, ˈgʌvənmənt US ˈgʌvərn-] n

1.) also Government [C usually singular also + plural verb British English]

the group of people who govern a country or state

▪ The Government are planning further cuts in public spending.

▪ The US government has tightened restrictions on firearms.

▪ Neither party had the majority necessary to form a government (=become the government after an election) .

democratic/totalitarian etc government

▪ The country now has a democratic government for the first time.

▪ A coalition government (=government made up of members of several political parties) will now be established.

under a government

(=during the period of a government)

▪ Structural reforms are unlikely under the present government.

▪ a meeting with government officials

▪ the restructuring of government departments

▪ Government spending on health care totals about $60 billion a year.

2.) [U]

a form or system of government

▪ Most people in the country support the return to democratic government.

→↑local government, ↑central government

3.) [U]

the process or way of governing

in government

▪ What would the opposition do if they were in government (=governing the country) ?

▪ the importance of good government in developing countries

4.) [U] AmE

the degree to which the government controls economic and social activities

▪ The protest march was really about big government (=when the government controls many activities) .