government house
Definition
Noun (countable): The official residence of a governor, especially in a Commonwealth country or former British colony; a building that serves as the office and home of a head of a regional government (such as a state governor or lieutenant governor).
Usage Examples
- (The official residence of the governor.)
- (The building where the governor works and lives.)
- (The official home provided for the governor's use.)
Advanced Usage
- "Government House" is often capitalized (as a proper noun) when referring to a specific official residence, such as Government House in Ottawa or Government House in Wellington.
- In some contexts, "government house" may refer to the administrative headquarters of a colonial or territorial government, though this usage is less common.
Variants and Related Words
- Governor's mansion (n): a similar official residence for a governor, used primarily in the United States.
- The governor's mansion in Texas is open for public tours.
- Government building (n): any building used by a government for official purposes, not necessarily a residence.
- The post office is located in a large government building.
Synonyms
- Official residence: a house or building provided for a person of high official rank.
- Governor's house: a less formal term for the same concept.
Related Idioms
- "The seat of government": the location of a government's main offices or capital.
- The capital city is the seat of government. (Not specifically a house, but the centre of political power.)
Notes on Usage
- The term is most commonly used in Commonwealth countries (e.g., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India) and former British colonies. In the United States, the equivalent is usually called the "governor's mansion" or "state capitol" (for the legislative building).
- Do not confuse "government house" with "government housing" (subsidized housing for low-income citizens).