governing body

USAGE SUMMARY

"governing body" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It typically refers to a group of people who are responsible for making and enforcing laws, policies, or regulations within an organization or a particular field. For example, "The United Nations is an international governing body."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now the games' governing body seems relaxed.

The Economist

"We are the governing body.

The Guardian - Sport

The governing body is the National Hunt Committee.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There is a world governing body.

The Guardian - Sport

"The governing body of the school took this decision - there are parents on the governing body".

The Guardian

Bunting also sits on the academy's governing body.

The Guardian

The U.S.E.F. is the governing body for equestrian sports.

The New York Times - Sports

"Go ask the governing body what the next step is.

The Guardian

"We are not a governing body," said Payne.

The Guardian - Sport

But doesn't that lead to incredibly long governing body meetings?

The Guardian

Not that the governing body should be immune from criticism.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "governing body", clearly define the specific organization or area of responsibility it oversees to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "the governing body of the university" or "the governing body for international sports".

Common error

Don't mistake an advisory group for a "governing body". A "governing body" has decision-making authority, while an advisory group only provides recommendations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "governing body" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the entity responsible for directing and controlling an organization, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "governing body" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase that refers to a group responsible for making decisions and overseeing operations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s used across various contexts, ranging from news and media to formal business and encyclopedias. When using "governing body", be specific about the entity it oversees. Consider alternatives like "regulatory authority" or "oversight committee" to better suit the context. Be mindful of the distinction between a "governing body" and an advisory group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regulatory authority

Focuses on the regulatory function of the body.

oversight committee

Emphasizes the supervisory role of the group.

ruling council

Highlights the decision-making aspect of the body.

administration

A more general term referring to the management of an organization.

leadership team

Highlights the leaders within an organization.

board of directors

Refers specifically to the governing body of a corporation.

management committee

Focuses on the operational management aspect.

controlling entity

Emphasizes the power and control aspect of the group.

supervisory board

Similar to oversight committee, but may imply more formal authority.

executive committee

Refers to a committee within a larger governing body that handles executive functions.

FAQs

How to use "governing body" in a sentence?

You can use "governing body" to refer to an organization or group responsible for making decisions and overseeing operations, such as "The "governing body" of the university approved the new budget."

What can I say instead of "governing body"?

You can use alternatives like "regulatory authority", "oversight committee", or "ruling council" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the governing body are" or "the governing body is"?

In American English, it's generally preferred to use "the governing body is", treating the group as a singular entity. In British English, "the governing body are" is acceptable.

What's the role of a "governing body"?

The role of a "governing body" is to provide strategic direction, ensure accountability, and oversee the management of an organization or institution.