govt

IPA/ɡˈɒvt/
IPA/ɡˈɑːvt/

govt — noun

1. the written abbreviation for the word 'government', used in official letters, fo

1.nounB1
Definition

the written abbreviation for the word 'government', used in official letters, forms, addresses, reports, and notes as a shorter way of writing it

Example

Eri received a letter from the local govt about the new recycling programme.

govt + local + [noun]: common pattern in addresses and letters

The govt website lists all public holidays for the coming year.

govt + [noun]: used as a modifier before a noun

Common collocations
  • govt office
  • govt report
  • govt website
  • govt department
  • local govt
  • govt funding
  • govt policy

Usage Note

Always written, never spoken aloud. In speech, the full word 'government' is used instead. Common on official letterheads, application forms, government documents, and in note-taking. No full stop is usually needed after 'govt' in modern British and American English, though older styles may include one.

Common Mistakes

The govt has announced new tax changes.' (in speech or informal writing)
The government has announced new tax changes.
'govt' is only for formal written contexts, never for speech or casual writing.
govt.' (with a full stop)
govt' (without a full stop)
In modern style guides, abbreviations that end with the last letter of the full word do not need a period.

Etymology

English

Shortened from 'government' by dropping the middle letters. This type of contraction, which keeps the first and last letters of the original word, is known in English as a 'clipping' or 'abbreviation'. Similar patterns appear in 'dept' (department), 'dept' and 'Dr' (Doctor). The use of such abbreviations became common in British and American administrative writing during the 19th and 20th centuries as correspondence and form-filling increased.