governor

noun

gov·​er·​nor ˈgə-vᵊn-ər How to pronounce governor (audio)
also ˈgə-vər-nər
Synonyms of governornext
1
: one that governs: such as
a
: one that exercises authority especially over an area or group
b
: an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or nominal head of a political unit
the state's governor
d
: the managing director and usually the principal officer of an institution or organization
e
: a member of a group that directs or controls an institution or society
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
2
: tutor
3
a
slang : one looked upon as governing
b
British, informal : mister, sir
usually used as a term of address
4
a
: an attachment to a machine (such as a gasoline engine) for automatic control or limitation of speed
b
: a device giving automatic control (as of pressure or temperature)
governorate noun

Examples of governor in a Sentence

the governor of the state of Florida He was the chairman of the board of governors at the school. the governor of the Bank of England Wait here while I get the governor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Republicans have held at least two-thirds both chambers of both states for over a decade, holding enough seats to override a governor’s veto without needing a vote from the opposing party. Jack Harvel july 8, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026 Two military bases near the southern province of Bushehr were hit by enemy projectiles this morning, according to the region's deputy governor. Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026 For donors, Kousser said contributions offered the hope of currying favor with a possible future governor. Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026 Along with the tax hike, the agreement settled upon by Newsom and lawmakers last week delays the governor’s plans to cut or freeze Medi-Cal coverage for immigrants without legal status until next summer. Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for governor

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of governor was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Governor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/governor. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

governor

noun
gov·​er·​nor ˈgəv(-ə)-nər How to pronounce governor (audio)
also ˈgəv-ər-nər
1
: one that governs
especially : an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or head of a political unit (as a colony, state, or province)
2
: an attachment to a machine for automatic control of speed
governorship
-ˌship
noun

Legal Definition

governor

noun
: one that governs: as
a
: one that exercises authority especially over an area or group
b
: an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or nominal head of a political unit
specifically : the chief executive of a U.S. state
c
: the managing director and usually the principal officer of an institution or organization
d
: a member of a group that controls or directs an institution
the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors
governorship noun
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