'government-owned' originates from the combination of 'government' and 'owned', where 'government' refers to the governing body of a nation, and 'owned' means to possess or have control over something.

The term 'government-owned' evolved from the concept of state ownership, which has been present in various forms throughout history.

Initially, it meant 'owned by the state or government', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.