Meanings
adjectiveclose enough for government work (not comparable)
- USderogatoryhumorousidiomaticnot comparableAdequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.
Synonyms: good enough for government work, satisfactory
- Canadahumorousidiomaticnot comparableAcceptable; equivalent to government work, neither worse nor better.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveAdequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.
Cite this entry
APA
close enough for government work. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/close%20enough%20for%20government%20work
MLA
“close enough for government work.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/close%20enough%20for%20government%20work. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “close enough for government work,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/close%20enough%20for%20government%20work.
Source: close enough for government work on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.