lieutenant governor

American  

noun

1. a state officer next in rank to a governor, who takes the governor's place in case of the latter's absence, disability, or death.

2. British. a deputy governor.

3. the executive officer of a Canadian province appointed by the governor general.

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lieutenant governor British  

noun

1. a deputy governor

2. (in the US) an elected official who acts as deputy to a state governor and succeeds him if he dies

3.  lieutenant-governor.  (in Canada) the representative of the Crown in a province: appointed by the federal government acting for the Crown

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Other Word Forms

• lieutenant governorship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of lieutenant governor

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lieutenant governor

Interim charges are lists of issues that the lieutenant governor and speaker give to their respective chamber’s committees to study during the period between legislative sessions.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026

Ben Kingsley, trying a Scottish accent as the Glasgow-born lieutenant governor of the Virginia colony, Robert Dinwiddie, at least gets a character arc.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Guest: Geoff Duncan, former lieutenant governor of Georgia and a current Georgia gubernatorial candidate who switched parties from Republican to Democrat last year.

From Slate ● May 4, 2026

If the sitting governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, then the lieutenant governor would assume the role.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

“William! The lieutenant governor just walked in. Let’s go speak before he sits down.”

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett