Cryptic crossword clue
Controlling last third of active service in progress 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word GOVERNING

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
G
O
V
E
R
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G

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The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does GOVERNING mean?

GOVERNING verb
  1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in.
  2. To control the actions or behavior of; to keep under control; to restrain.
  3. To exercise a deciding or determining influence on.
  4. To control the speed, flow etc. of; to regulate.
  5. To exercise political authority; to run a government.
  6. To have or exercise a determining influence.
  7. (grammar) To require that a certain preposition, grammatical case, etc. be used with a word; sometimes used synonymously with collocate.

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