GOVERNOR Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

governor

[ guhv-er-ner, ‑uh-ner ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the executive head of a state in the U.S.
a person charged with the direction or control of an institution, society, etc.:
the governors of a bank; the governor of a prison.
Also called governor general. the representative of the crown, as in the Commonwealth of Nations.
a ruler or chief magistrate appointed to govern a province, town, fort, or the like.
Machinery. a device for maintaining uniform speed regardless of changes of load, as by regulating the supply of fuel or working fluid.
British Informal.
1. one's father.
2. one's employer.
3. any man of superior rank or status.

governor

/ ˈɡʌ��ə��ə /

noun

a person who governs
the ruler or chief magistrate of a colony, province, etc
the representative of the Crown in a British colony
the senior administrator or head of a society, prison, etc
the chief executive of any state in the US
a device that controls the speed of an engine, esp by regulating the supply of fuel, etc, either to limit the maximum speed or to maintain a constant speed
Also calledhead grammar
1. a word in a phrase or clause that is the principal item and gives the function of the whole, as hat in the big red hat
2. ( as modifier )
  a governor noun
informal.
a name or title of respect for a father, employer, etc

Discover More

Pronunciation Note

In governor, the process of dissimilation—the tendency for neighboring like sounds to become unlike or for one of them to disappear entirely—commonly results in the loss of the first [r] of [guhv, -er-ner], producing the pronunciation [guhv, -, uh, -ner]. This pronunciation is heard even in regions where postvocalic [r] is not usually dropped. A further loss, of the medial unstressed vowel, results in [guhv, -ner]. All three pronunciations are standard. See colonel, February, library.

Discover More

Other 51�Թ� Forms

��ܲ�·��Ǳ�İ�·�Դǰ� noun
�ܲ�d��·��Ǳ�İ�·�Դǰ� noun

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of governor¹

1250–1300; Middle English governour < Old French governeor, gouverneur < Latin ��ܲ��ō��, accusative of ��ܲ��ٴǰ�, equivalent to ��ܲ��(��) to steer, govern + -tor -tor

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Representing as he does the non-expansion state of Georgia, he knows that red state governors like his own would be inclined to simply ax the expansion if given a fiscal pretext to hide behind.

From

Should Carney decide to reshuffle his Cabinet, there will be a ceremony with the governor general, but until then, the ministers stay in their posts.

From

Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, was eating at the popular Capital Burger restaurant with her Gucci handbag sitting by her feet underneath her seat.

From

In some of the photos, the Democratic governor appears to attempt to hide her face behind a folder.

From

Two people were also killed in a Ukrainian strike on the Russian region of Belgorod, the local governor said.

From

governmenty governorate

Browse