governor

noun

gov·​er·​nor ˈgə-vᵊn-ər 

 also  ˈgə-vər-nər

1

: one that governs: such as

a

: one that exercises authority especially over an area or group

b

: an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or nominal head of a political unit

c

: commanding officer

d

: the managing director and usually the principal officer of an institution or organization

e

: a member of a group that directs or controls an institution or society

2

: tutor

3

a

slang : one looked upon as governing

b

: mister, sir

—usually used as a term of address

4

a

: an attachment to a machine (such as a gasoline engine) for automatic control or limitation of speed

b

: a device giving automatic control (as of pressure or temperature)

governorate

ˈgə-vᵊn-ər-ət 

-ˌāt

 also  ˈgə-vər-nər-

noun

Examples of governor in a Sentence

the governor of the state of Florida

He was the chairman of the board of governors at the school.

the governor of the Bank of England

Wait here while I get the governor.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Democratic governor is a staunch LGBTQ+ advocate. —Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024

The former governor of California also shares daughters Katherine, 34, and Christina, 31, and son Christopher, 26, with ex-wife Maria Shriver, plus son Joseph Baena, 26, with Mildred Patricia Baena. —Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 27 June 2024

Send congestion pricing and the MTA back to the drawing board, governor! —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 June 2024

The former South Carolina governor lacks the No. 1 job requirement for Trump: A loyalty guarantee. —Susan Page, USA TODAY, 26 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing governor

• governor-general
• lieutenant governor

Kids Definition

governor

noun

gov·​er·​nor ˈgəv(-ə)-nər 

 also  ˈgəv-ər-nər

1

: one that governs

especially : an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or head of a political unit (as a colony, state, or province)

2

: an attachment to a machine for automatic control of speed

governorship

-ˌship

noun

Legal Definition

governor

noun

gov·​er·​nor ˈgə-vər-nər 

: one that governs: as

a

: one that exercises authority especially over an area or group

b

: an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or nominal head of a political unit

specifically : the chief executive of a U.S. state

c

: the managing director and usually the principal officer of an institution or organization

d

: a member of a group that controls or directs an institution

the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors

governorship noun