What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
political
Example
The political situation in the country is very tense right now. [political: adjective]
Example
She is interested in pursuing a career in politics. [politics: noun]
governmental
Example
The governmental agency responsible for environmental protection has issued new regulations. [governmental: adjective]
Example
The students visited various governmental institutions during their field trip. [governmental: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Political is more common than governmental in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of topics and is more versatile. However, governmental is more commonly used in formal contexts such as legal documents and academic writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between political and governmental?
Governmental is more formal than political, as it is commonly used in legal documents and academic writing. However, both words are generally considered formal and are not commonly used in informal contexts.