Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having the authority to control, direct, or administer: Describes a person, group, or body that is responsible for making and enforcing rules, laws, or policies.
   • Dominant, prevailing: Describes a principle, idea, or factor that is the most influential or controlling in a particular situation.

2. Noun:

   • The act or process of governing: The exercise of authority, control, or administration over a state, organization, or system.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The governing party proposed new economic policies. (The party in power proposed new economic policies.)
  • The governing principle of the organization is transparency. (The dominant principle of the organization is transparency.)

• Noun:

  • The governing of a large country is a complex task. (The act of ruling a large country is a complex task.)
  • He studied the theories of state governing. (He studied the theories of state administration.)

Advanced Usage

• "Governing body": The group of people who are responsible for controlling and managing an institution, organization, or state.
  • The university's governing body approved the new curriculum.
• "Governing law": The system of law that applies to and controls a contract or legal dispute.
  • The contract specifies English law as the governing law.

Variants and Related Words

• Govern (verb): To conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of a state, organization, or people.
  • Elected officials govern the country.
• Government (noun): The group of people with the authority to govern a country or state; the system by which a state or community is governed.
  • The government announced a new initiative.
• Governance (noun): The action or manner of governing.
  • The company is praised for its good governance.
• Governor (noun): The elected executive head of a state; a member of a governing body.
  • The governor will give a speech tonight.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Ruling, controlling, commanding, dominant, prevailing, administrative.
• Noun: Administration, rule, control, leadership, direction, regulation.

Related Phrases

• Self-governing: Having the right or power of self-government; autonomous.
  • The island is a self-governing territory.
• Governing board: A board of directors or trustees responsible for the governance of an institution.
  • The school's governing board meets monthly.

Adjective

1. responsible for making and enforcing rules and laws
   • governing bodies

Noun

1. the act of governing; exercising authority
   • regulations for the governing of state prisons
   • he had considerable experience of government