government
1 : the act or process of governing
;specif : authoritative direction or control
2 : the office, authority, or function of governing
3 : the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit
: rule 4 a : the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it
b : the complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out
5 : the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: as
a : the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency
b cap : the executive branch of the U.S. federal government
c : the prosecution in a criminal case in its capacity as agents of the political unit [the failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt]
gov·ern·men·tal adj
gov·ern·men·tal·ly adv