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
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.
The event marked the first gathering of gubernatorial hopefuls since USC pulled the plug on its debate last week.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order banning gubernatorial appointees from profiting on prediction markets using nonpublic information.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
The order applies to thousands of gubernatorial appointees but not to state employees who aren’t appointed by the governor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Davis can well relate to those gubernatorial hopefuls in the position he once was — dissed, dismissed and bumping along near the bottom of horse-race polls.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
And so when Federalist leaders from New York approached him as a prospective candidate for the gubernatorial race, he indicated a willingness to switch party affiliations and run in his home state as a Federalist.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
