A government-owned corporation is a business entity that is fully or partially owned by the government. It operates for a public purpose rather than for profit. Other synonyms for government-owned corporation include state-owned enterprise, public enterprise, state-controlled enterprise, nationalized industry, and public-sector enterprise. These terms are used interchangeably to describe a wide range of businesses that are owned by the government. Examples include public utilities, postal services, transportation services, and financial institutions. The main purpose of these corporations is to provide essential services to citizens while also generating revenue for the government. They may be subject to different regulations and policies than private companies.