Lord Lieutenant

American

noun

British. the title of various high officials holding authority deputed from a sovereign.
(formerly) the viceroy in Ireland.

Lord Lieutenant British

noun

(in Britain) the representative of the Crown in a county
(formerly) the British viceroy in Ireland

"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

Other Word Forms

Lord Lieutenancy noun

Etymology

Origin of Lord Lieutenant

First recorded in 1960–65

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.

There she was met by a welcoming party, meeting patients, staff and dignitaries including Prospect Hospice CEO Jeremy Lune and Lord Lieutenant Dame Sarah Troughton.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2025

The Queen was accompanied by Lord Lieutenant of Bristol, Peaches Golding - and even used her ceremonial sword to cut a celebratory cake.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2023

Tobias said: "I will receive the medal from the Lord Lieutenant at a local ceremony but I'll also be invited to attend a royal garden party."

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2021

"He's had letters from Boris Johnson, the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire," Mrs Hall said, who added her son was also shortlisted for a Pride of Britain award.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2021

A Lord Lieutenant of too much virtue and magnanimity to speak what he did not think, takes notice from the throne, “of the prosperous state of this country, improving daily in its manufactures and commerce.”

From The Commercial Restraints of Ireland by Hutchinson, John Hely

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023