gubernatorial
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does gubernatorial mean? Gubernatorial is an adjective used to refer to things related to a state governor in the United States. The word governor can mean different things in different places, but gubernatorial is primarily used in the U. S., where a governor is the executive head of a state. Gubernatorial is the adjective form of governor in the same way that presidential is the adjective form of president. And it’s used in all the same ways, especially in phrases like gubernatorial duties, gubernatorial debate, and gubernatorial race. Example: It might not be as exciting as the presidential debate, but it’s still important to watch the gubernatorial debate.
Etymology
Origin of gubernatorial
1725–35, < Latin gubernātōr- (stem of gubernātor ) steersman, governor + -ial
Explanation
Anything gubernatorial has to go with governors, the same way that anything "presidential" has to do with presidents. A governor is the elected leader of a state in America, and anything gubernatorial has to do with governors and their governing. There are gubernatorial debates and gubernatorial elections. If elected, the governor has many gubernatorial duties to carry out in the gubernatorial mansion. And if a candidate acts out of line, you could say "That's not very gubernatorial" — meaning they’re not acting like a governor should.
Vocabulary lists containing gubernatorial
One Nation, Under Vocabulary: Political Parlance
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Three Keys
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Talking About the Election Results? Ten Words from Today's News Can Help
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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.
Real estate developer and former gubernatorial candidate Stephen Cloobeck, who exited the race in November, was arrested in Los Angeles County on Tuesday.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
True, there’s no pyrotechnic personality in the expansive field of gubernatorial hopefuls.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
Consider Xavier Becerra, who served as Joe Biden’s health and human services secretary and has recently surged in the gubernatorial polls.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
There are city council elections, county commission elections, state legislative elections, congressional elections, senatorial elections, gubernatorial elections, and presidential elections.
From Slate • May 7, 2026
Hodges’ chief political foe at this time was an outspoken segregationist named I. Beverly Lake, an assistant state attorney general, who, it was rumored, planned to oppose Hodges in the 1956 gubernatorial race.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
