governance
noun
gov·er·nance
ˈgə-vər-nən(t)s 
plural governances
: the act or process of governing or overseeing the control and direction of something (such as a country or an organization) : government
a centralized system of governance
the challenges of national governance
… the governance of amateur sport in America …—
P. S. Wood
P. S. Wood… three years before he died, [Lionel] Trilling pressed the point that the way a nation thinks determines in the end the quality of its governance.—Benjamin DeMott
Benjamin DeMottEnron, and the corporate disasters that followed, forced many companies to get serious about governance.—Louis Lavelle
Louis LavelleTheirs was the perennial problem of quick-witted subjects under the governance of dull-witted administrators.—Declan Kiberd
Declan KiberdMichael Dukakis, at the 1988 Democratic convention, said governance was about competence, not ideology. He got it half right: Competence is important to governance, but ideology is critical …—U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World ReportExamples of governance in a Sentence
They have very different approaches to the governance of the city.
after World War II, the four Allied nations shared the governance of the territory of postwar Germany under the Allied Control Council
Recent Examples on the Web
This might begin with limited technical assistance in governance and economic development, expanding as Jolani's administration demonstrates reliable partnership.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Like Bedrock, Vertex would benefit from deeper security, management and governance capabilities and integrations.
—Jason Andersen, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
It is understood the French group — parent of Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and other brands — is aiming to further strengthen its governance and risk management, enhance the integration of its regional activities and promote cross-functional collaboration.
—Miles Socha, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
But the authority’s president, Mahmoud Abbas, has appeared wary of a postwar governance structure that does not unequivocally give him full control of the territory — a position that puts him at odds with a technocratic committee.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
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Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Like Bedrock, Vertex would benefit from deeper security, management and governance capabilities and integrations.
—Jason Andersen, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
It is understood the French group — parent of Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and other brands — is aiming to further strengthen its governance and risk management, enhance the integration of its regional activities and promote cross-functional collaboration.
—Miles Socha, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
But the authority’s president, Mahmoud Abbas, has appeared wary of a postwar governance structure that does not unequivocally give him full control of the territory — a position that puts him at odds with a technocratic committee.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for governance
Cite this Entry
“Governance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/governance. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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governance
noun
gov·er·nance
ˈgəv-ər-nən(t)s
: the exercise of control : government
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