政府|せいふseifu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noungovernment; administration; ministry
   政府せいふは倒たおされた。↗

   The government was overthrown.

• Synonym当局とうきょくNeutralThe authorities with jurisdiction over a matter, as in 「警察当局」 or 「大学当局」; its scope is not limited to the central government.
• Synonym行政府ぎょうせいふFormalFormal term for the executive branch, standing alongside the legislative and judicial branches; 「政府」 in Japan usually means the cabinet and central ministries.
• Related官憲かんけんWrittenWritten word for government offices, especially law-enforcement bodies like the police, often with a nuance of oppressing the public; in daily speech say 「警察」 or 「当局」.
• Related官府かんぷWrittenArchaic written term for the imperial court or government offices, found mainly in historical texts; today use 「政府」 or 「官庁」 for state organs.
• Antonym野党やとうNeutralParties that do not join the government, standing opposite the ruling side, i.e. 「政府」 or 「与党」.
• Antonym民間みんかんNeutralGeneral society or the private sector outside government and official agencies, as in 「民間企業」; the opposite of the official 「政府」 side.

Use 「政府」 for the organs that govern the state. For the body with authority over a particular matter say 「当局」, and for the private, non-official side say 「民間」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 国くにの政治せいじを行おこなう統治とうち機関きかん。中央ちゅうおう省庁しょうちょう。
2. 内閣ないかく。