Gov"ern*ment (?), n. [F. gouvernement. See Govern.] 1. The act of governing; the exercise of authority; the administration of laws; control; direction; regulation; as, civil, church, or family government.

2. The mode of governing; the system of polity in a state; the established form of law.

That free government which we have so dearly purchased, free commonwealth.

3. The right or power of governing; authority.

I here resign my government to thee.

4. The person or persons authorized to administer the laws; the ruling power; the administration.

When we, in England, speak of the government, we generally understand the ministers of the crown for the time being.

5. The body politic governed by one authority; a state; as, the governments of Europe.

6. Management of the limbs or body. Shak.

7. (Gram.) The influence of a word in regard to construction, requiring that another word should be in a particular case.

• the body with the power to make and/or enforce laws for a country, land area, people, or organization.
  
• the state and its administration viewed as the ruling political power.
  
• the management or control of a system.
  
• the tenure of a chief of state.