governess
Americannoun
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a woman who is employed to take charge of a child's upbringing, education, etc.
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Archaic. a woman who is a ruler or governor.
noun
Gender
See -ess.
Other Word Forms
- governessy adjective
- subgoverness noun
- undergoverness noun
Etymology
Origin of governess
1400–50; late Middle English governeress < Old French gouverneresse, feminine of gouverneur governor; -ess
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Marion Crawford, known as Crawfie, had been governess to the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026
Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House as a governess with a secret, which would be enough for many a novel set in Victorian England.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2025
The bathroom belonged to a live-in governess, Mr Virag said, who he was holding a meeting with in a basement room of the five storey property when the theft occurred.
From BBC • Jan. 1, 2025
Follow along as Maria serves as governess for the seven children of the stern Captain, bringing music to their lives in the form of timeless songs like “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Do Re Mi” and “Edelweiss.”
From Seattle Times • May 25, 2023
Cassiopeia snorted as if her governess had made a hilarious joke.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
