n.
Pronunciation: ' g ə -v ə r(n)-m ə nt, -v ə -m ə nt; ' g ə -b ə m- ə nt, -v ə m-
Function: noun
Usage: often attrib
Date: 14th century
1 : the act or process of governing specifically : authoritative direction or control
2 obsolete : moral conduct or behavior : DISCRETION
3 a : the office, authority, or function of governing b obsolete : the term during which a governing official holds office
4 : the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit : RULE
5 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
6 : 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 capitalized : the executive branch of the U.S. federal government c capitalized : a small group of persons holding simultaneously the principal political executive offices of a nation or other political unit and being responsible for the direction and supervision of public affairs: (1) : such a group in a parliamentary system constituted by the cabinet or by the ministry (2) : ADMINISTRATION 4B
7 : POLITICAL SCIENCE
– gov · ern · men · tal \ ˌ g ə -v ə r(n)- ' men-t ə l \ adjective
– gov · ern · men · tal · ize \ -t ə - ˌ l ī z \ transitive verb
– gov · ern · men · tal · ly \ -t ə l- ē \ adverb