governing

adjective

gov·​ern·​ing ˈgə-vər-niŋ 

: serving to govern: such as

a

: directing and making decisions for a country, organization, etc.

the country's governing [=ruling] party/coalition

a five-member governing board/council

Event managers must always pay close attention to regulations, such as local and sports governing bodies' regulations …

—Anastasia Nisenbaum

b

: directing or guiding the actions of someone or something

It's our … governing principle to treat people with dignity and with respect.

—Cheryl Prichard, quoted in The Dominion Post (Morgantown, West Virginia)

… an effort to cleanse the International [architectural] style of its nonfunctional design elements and return to the principle of necessity as the governing factor.

—The Encyclopedia of American Art

especially : guiding the ideas, actions, decisions, etc. of a political leader or body

Some of the basic principles that Romans articulated as governing principles for their republic are principles that later republics adopted.

—Edward Watts

… the candidates … displayed sharp contrasts in their governing philosophy.

—Pat Bradley

see also self-governing

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of govern

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing governing

• non-self-governing
• self-governing