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governmental

Etymology and origin of the English word governmental

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1744
Ultimate origins
Old French (governement)English (-al)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin guberno
English government
English governmental
Latin gubernator
English governor

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌɡʌv(ə)nˈmɛnt(ə)l/ (UK); /ˌɡʌvɚnˈmɛnt(ə)l/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is from English government + -al.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or relating to government: 1744 in the OED and Etymonline.[3][2]

Semantic evolution

Bartlett listed it among Americanisms in 1848, citing Webster.[4] A Middle English word in the same sense was gubernatif (late 14th century).[2] Governmentalism, a disposition to extend governmental power, is from 1848.[3]

Timeline

  • late 14th century – gubernatif.[2]
  • 1744 – governmental.[3][2]
  • 1848 – governmentalism.[3]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Relating to government or a government.

Word family

  • governmentalism
  • intergovernmental
  • nongovernmental
  • semigovernmental

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Bartlett, John Russell (1848), Dictionary of Americanisms, New York: Bartlett and Welford
Cite this entry

“Governmental.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/governmental. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·