Non-government refers to entities or activities that are not controlled or regulated by the government. Synonyms for non-government include private, independent, non-state, civil society, and non-profit. Private organizations are entities that operate independently and are not controlled by the government. Independent refers to organizations that operate outside of government influence or control. Non-state refers to entities that are not government-run or controlled. Civil society refers to a range of non-governmental organizations that operate for the common good of society. Non-profit refers to organizations that are primarily focused on social welfare and do not generate profit for private owners. All of these synonyms share the common characteristic of being non-governmental and independent.