governor

[ guhv-er-ner, ‐uh-ner ]

/ ˈgʌv ər nər, ‐ə nər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for governor on Thesaurus.com

noun

the executive head of a state in the U.S.

a person charged with the direction or control of an institution, society, etc.: the governors of a bank; the governor of a prison.

Also called governor general. the representative of the crown, as in the Commonwealth of Nations.

a ruler or chief magistrate appointed to govern a province, town, fort, or the like.

Machinery. a device for maintaining uniform speed regardless of changes of load, as by regulating the supply of fuel or working fluid.

British Informal.

one's father.
one's employer.
any man of superior rank or status.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of governor

1250–1300; Middle English governour <Old French governeor, gouverneur <Latin gubernātōrem, accusative of gubernātor, equivalent to gubernā(re) to steer, govern + -tor -tor

how to pronounce governor

In governor, the process of dissimilation—the tendency for neighboring like sounds to become unlike or for one of them to disappear entirely—commonly results in the loss of the first

[r] /r/ of

[guhv-er-ner], /ˈgʌv ər nər/, producing the pronunciation

[guhv-uh-ner]. /ˈgʌv ə nər/. This pronunciation is heard even in regions where postvocalic

[r] /r/ is not usually dropped. A further loss, of the medial unstressed vowel, results in

[guhv-ner]. /ˈgʌv nər/. All three pronunciations are standard. See colonel, February, library.

OTHER WORDS FROM governor

sub·gov·er·nor, nounun·der·gov·er·nor, noun

Words nearby governor

government man, Government National Mortgage Association, government of the people, by the people, and for the people, Government Printing Office, governmenty, governor, governorate, governor general, governor's council, governorship, Governors Island

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use governor in a sentence

Republicans are serving today as the governors of Massachusetts, Maryland, and Vermont while Democrats govern Kansas, Louisiana, and Kentucky.
America needs a democratic revolution|Matthew Yglesias|September 17, 2020|Vox
A reporter asked whether the governor would consider special exceptions like San Diego’s seeking.
Morning Report: Lincoln Abruptly Canceled AP Class|Voice of San Diego|September 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
So, when the governor calls in the National Guard, it means that the state pays for the soldiers and the use of the equipment.
Mobilizing the National Guard Doesn’t Mean Your State Is Under Martial Law. Usually.|by Logan Jaffe|September 17, 2020|ProPublica
Since then, though, Biden has been clearer that this would be something he would press governors to implement.
Trump’s increasingly overt effort to pretend Biden is actually president|Aaron Blake|September 16, 2020|Washington Post

Stephanopoulos noted Biden called on governors to implement the mandate.
Trump’s incoherent defense of his coronavirus response|Aaron Blake|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Like many Americans—but few Republican presidential candidates—the former Florida governor has evolved on the issue.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The governor of Punjab province, a Muslim man, called publicly for leniency for her.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Duke was a state representative whose neo-Nazi alliances were disgorged in media reports during his run for governor in 1991.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Abramoff said that the governor needed to remember to “be humble.”
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv|Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In particular the Governor of Adinskoy offered us a guard of fifty men to the next station, if we apprehended any danger.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
The governor of the fortress was provided with a safe residence in Egypt, and an annual pension of 75,000 piasters.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
He recounts at much length the reasons for which he supposes the governor arrested him.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
He shall serve among great men, and appear before the governor.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Messa urges the king to send a new governor, and gives his advice as to the character of him who should be sent.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various

British Dictionary definitions for governor

governor

/ (ˈɡʌvənə) /

noun

a person who governs

the ruler or chief magistrate of a colony, province, etc

the representative of the Crown in a British colony

British the senior administrator or head of a society, prison, etc

the chief executive of any state in the US

a device that controls the speed of an engine, esp by regulating the supply of fuel, etc, either to limit the maximum speed or to maintain a constant speed

Also called: head grammar

a word in a phrase or clause that is the principal item and gives the function of the whole, as hat in the big red hat
(as modifier)a governor noun

British informal a name or title of respect for a father, employer, etc

Other words from governor

Related adjective: gubernatorial

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

governor

Origin of governor

how to pronounce governor

OTHER WORDS FROM governor

Words nearby governor

Words related to governor

How to use governor in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for governor

Other words from governor