'government' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'governement', ultimately from Latin 'gubernare' where the root 'gubern-' meant 'to steer' or 'to direct'.

'government' changed from Old French 'governement' and Middle English 'governement' and eventually became the modern English word 'government'.

Initially it meant 'the act of governing; direction or steering', but over time it came to refer more to 'the organization or body that governs' (the ruling institution).