What does governance mean?
Word: Governance
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Governance means the way a country, a company, a school or any organisation is controlled and run, and how its leaders make decisions.
Synonyms: administration, management, rule
How do you spell governance?
Syllables: gov - ern - ance
Tricky part: Keep the r of govern: govenance, with the r lost, is the slip seen most often.
Watch out for: govenance, guvernance
Memory tip: Say gov-ERN-ance and lean on the middle beat: that ern carries the r of govern.
Governance in a sentence
Example 1: Good governance means the panchayat spends money where the village needs it most.
Example 2: The school board discussed governance rules for the new student council.
Example 3: In our civics lesson we learnt that e-governance lets people pay bills and get certificates online.
Fun Fact
Govern goes back through Latin to the Greek word kubernan, to steer a ship, so running a country was first pictured as steering it.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Fusion
Which two parts join to make the word described? The way a country or an organisation is run and controlled.
1. ful 2. govern 3. ence 4. ise 5. ance 6. ly
a) 2 and 5
b) 2 and 6
c) 1 and 4
d) 2 and 3
Show answer
a) 2 and 5. Govern takes the same ending that guide takes in guidance; governence only looks right.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. governance 2. government 3. governor 4. governess
a) 4123
b) 1432
c) 4213
d) 1423
Show answer
d) 1423. All four start with govern; after that a comes before e, then m, then o.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) parliment
b) minister
c) election
d) governance
Show answer
a) parliment. Parliament has an a after the i, a letter that is easy to miss because it is hardly heard.
Spellacadabra
Choose the misspelt word:
a) committee
b) governance
c) assembly
d) cabbinet
Show answer
d) cabbinet. Cabinet, the group of senior ministers, has a single b.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Good governance in a school includes ____.
a) letting the loudest child decide alone
b) keeping the accounts secret from parents
c) making fair rules and explaining them
d) changing the timetable without notice
Show answer
c) making fair rules and explaining them
2. Which of these is a sign of poor governance in a town?
a) clear rules for new buildings
b) parks swept every week
c) budgets shared with the public
d) roads left broken for years
Show answer
d) roads left broken for years
