governmentn.[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. (Milton.)3. The right or power of governing; authority.()I here resign my government to thee. (Shak.)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. (Mozley & W.)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.()