Meaning & use
limited government
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Meanings
noununcountable
A system in which the powers of those who rule are restricted by a constitution or law, so they cannot act just as they please.
Grammar: Used without an article for the principle: a constitution guarantees limited government.
Patterns
- support limited government
- a form of limited government
The constitution was written to create a limited government with checks on power.
Citizens in a limited government can challenge officials in court.
Limited government protects people's rights from sudden changes in policy.
noununcountable
The political belief that government should do only a few essential jobs, such as defense and justice, and leave most decisions to individuals and markets.
Grammar: Used as a political idea, often by those arguing for smaller state involvement: he campaigned for limited government.
Patterns
- argue for limited government
- a believer in limited government
The candidate promised lower taxes and limited government.
Supporters of limited government want fewer regulations on small businesses.
Common combinations
- support limited government
- Many voters support limited government and lower taxes.
- principle of limited government
- The principle of limited government shaped the founding documents.
- advocate for limited government
- She advocates for limited government in her columns.
- constitutional limited government
- A constitutional limited government guards basic freedoms.
Synonyms and how they differ
- constitutional government
- Constitutional government stresses rule under a written or agreed constitution, while limited government stresses how little power the state holds.
- small government
- Small government is a more informal slogan about size and spending, while limited government also covers legal restraints on power.
- minimal state
- Minimal state is a stronger, more academic phrase meaning the state does almost nothing beyond protection.
Opposites
Word family
- limit verb
- to set a boundary on something
- limitation noun
- a restriction
- government noun
- the group that rules a country or state
- governmental adjective
- relating to a government
Commonly confused: limited government or limited company?
limited government vs limited company
A limited company is a business whose owners are not personally responsible for its debts. It has nothing to do with the powers of a state.
Practice
Which situation best fits the idea of limited government?
Choose one answer.
Limited government means officials are bound by law and cannot act at will. The ruler with total power describes absolute rule, which is the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “limited government”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.