misgovernment

noun

mis·​gov·​ern·​ment ˌmis-ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt How to pronounce misgovernment (audio)
-və-mənt;
-ˈgə-bᵊm-ənt,
-vᵊm-
plural misgovernments
: bad or corrupt government
It has enough oil wealth for its 32 million population to live well. But they don't, facing scarcity in critical areas—nutrition, education and health—because of serious misgovernment. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Examples of misgovernment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yet the real-life burning of Los Angeles includes privileged-class Californians who suffer the lofty indifference of social misgovernment. Armond White, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025 This represents a significant departure from the era of misgovernment under Arafat, when PA security forces stood by as Fatah's own military wing, the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, led a campaign of terrorism against Israel. Ehud Yaari, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2010

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misgovernment was in 1565

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Cite this Entry

“Misgovernment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misgovernment. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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