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Synonyms

guv

American  
[guhv] / gʌv /

noun

Chiefly British Informal.
  1. term of address used to a man, especially by a younger man, boy, employee, or social inferior.

  2. governor.


guv British  
/ ɡʌv /

noun

  1. an informal name for governor

"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

Etymology

Origin of guv

First recorded in 1850–55; by shortening and respelling

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.

See Examples For:

And you look at all those innocent people strolling around the world looking so healthy and fit and happy and you think: 'You don't know guv, what's coming down the road.'

From BBC Dec. 25, 2023

“I went to high school with GOP guv candidate @BrianKempGA,” Davis wrote in the now-deleted tweet.

From Fox News Dec. 22, 2018

Lest that sound like our guv is just another face in the crowd, consider this: Cillizza put Inslee in the second of four “tiers” — the first tier being most likely to clinch the nomination.

From Seattle Times May 2, 2017

Yes, for nigh on four centuries they've been leaning down to expectant faces and querying, "Where to, guv?"

From New York Times Nov. 28, 2012

I really thought that guv had something on the ball.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

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