governments

USAGE SUMMARY

'governments' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you are referring to the ruling body of any particular nation, state, or local area. Example sentence: Governments around the world have implemented a range of policies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But none of this can happen unless governments remember how to govern again.

The Guardian - Opinion

Abbott said the federal government believed "the states should take more responsibility for their public hospitals and for their public schools and we make no apologies for wanting the states to be grown up, adult governments that take responsibility for the programs that are theirs, for the institutions that they run".

The Guardian

The public health community has an important role to play in demonstrating the magnitude of tobacco's threat to public health and calling on governments to strip away the trademark protections, rights to sue and opportunities to lobby that big tobacco uses to bully public representatives.

The Guardian

There are promises on tax avoidance and evasion, something promised by successive governments which is often easier to announce than to achieve.

The Guardian - Opinion

Change the actors – and the stakes – and it's a tired plotline familiar to many governments across the world.

The Guardian - Business

According to Eurodad, the coalition of civil society groups that campaigns on debt, there have been 600 sovereign debt restructurings since the 1950s – with many governments, including Argentina for example, experiencing one wrenching write-off after another.

The Guardian - Business

In a highly critical report on Monday, marking the first anniversary of the official outbreak in west Africa, the charity said the governments of Guinea and Sierra Leone obstructed the early response and contributed to the loss of life.

The Guardian

The Ebola crisis has brutally exposed the "age-old failures" of the humanitarian aid system with the World Health Organisation and governments repeating the mistakes of past public health emergencies, the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has said.

The Guardian

And some governments – notably the US and Japan – have trouble participating in multi-year commitments that represent a fiscal contingency.

The Guardian

Under Reagan and Thatcher we had embarked on this era of deregulation and privatisation, much of which the subsequent Clinton administration and New Labour governments accepted.

The Guardian

Ekins said if governments approved new fossil fuel production, they should be asked what resources elsewhere would not be exploited.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about multiple countries or regions, use "governments" to refer to the various governing bodies collectively.

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "government" when referring to multiple distinct governing entities. "Governments" is appropriate when discussing policies or actions across different nations or states.

Linguistic Context

The word "governments" functions as a plural noun, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI highlights, it refers to multiple governing bodies, such as those of different nations or states. Examples show its use in discussing policies, actions, and relationships between different governing entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "governments" is a grammatically correct and very common plural noun used to refer to multiple governing bodies. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using the term, it's essential to ensure that it accurately represents multiple entities to avoid grammatical errors. Related phrases include "state authorities" and "ruling bodies". The neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

state authorities

Focuses on the power and legal aspect of the state.

ruling bodies

Emphasizes the act of governing and leadership.

national administrations

Highlights the administrative aspect at the national level.

political regimes

Refers to the nature and characteristics of the government in power.

governing powers

Emphasizes the ability and right to govern.

public authorities

Focuses on the public role and responsibility of the governing entities.

governmental systems

Highlights the structured processes and organization of governing.

leadership councils

Emphasizes the collective leadership aspect of governance.

officialdom

Refers to the collective body of officials and bureaucrats in power.

the powers that be

An idiomatic expression referring to those in authority, often used in a more informal context.

FAQs

How is "governments" used in a sentence?

The plural noun "governments" refers to multiple governing bodies. For example, "Governments around the world are implementing new environmental policies."

What are some synonyms for "governments"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "governments" include "state authorities", "ruling bodies", or "national administrations".

When should I use "government" versus "governments"?

"Government" refers to a single governing body, while "governments" refers to multiple. For instance, "The government announced new regulations" versus "Governments of various countries collaborated on the treaty."

What is the difference between "government" and "administration"?

"Government" is a broader term referring to the system or body of governing, while "administration" typically refers to the specific group of people in power at a given time. "Governments" can change, and new administrations take office.