Dictionary

governor en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɡʌvɚnɚ/ US, rhotic
• /ˈɡʌv(ə)nə/ UK, non-rhotic
• /ˈɡʌvənɚ/ US, rhotic, r-dissimilation
• (US) audio
• /ˈɡʌvənə/ US, non-rhotic

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek κυβερνάω (kubernáō)bor. Latin gubernō Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin gubernator Old French gouvreneurbor. Middle English governour English governor From Middle English governour, from Old French gouvreneur, from Latin gubernator, from Ancient Greek κυβερνήτης (kubernḗtēs, “steersman, pilot, guide”), from κυβερνάω (kubernáō, “to steer, to drive, to guide, to act as a pilot”), of disputed origin. By surface analysis, govern + -or. Doublet of gubernator.

Meanings

1. The chief executive officer of a first-level administrative division of a country.
   • But gender is a factor both candidates will navigate in a country that has elected just 51 female state governors in its history. 2025 June 17, Eva McKend, “Virginia will elect its first female governor this fall. Neither candidate is talking much about it”, in CNN, archived from the original on 21 Jun 2025:
   • Top aides and people close to Kamala Harris have divided over whether she should head home to run for California governor in 2026 — and it all comes down to whether they believe she could win the Democratic nomination for president in an expected competitive primary in 2028. 2024 December 15, Edward-Isaac Dovere, “Harris debates her future: A run for California governor that would take 2028 off the table”, in CNN, archived from the original on 27 Jan 2025:
   • Younger voters are more libertarian in political philosophy than older voters and are credited with the success of libertarian governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota. 1999, Karen O'Connor, The essentials of American government: continuity and change, page 17
2. A device which regulates or controls some action of a machine through automatic feedback.
   • A governor on the injection pump limits the speed when running idle. 1958 July 14, “German Railbuses for British Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 501:
   • Generator excitation is obtained by a combination of the separately-excited and self-excited fields, and the output is controlled by a resistance in the separate field circuit adjusted by the load regulator under the control of the engine governor. 1961 October, “The first 1,250 h.p. Birmingham/Sulzer Type 2 diesels enter service”, in Trains Illustrated, page 607:
   • The turning point came in 1923, says Norton, when 42,000 Cincinnati residents signed a petition for a ballot initiative that would require all cars to have a governor limiting them to 25 miles per hour. 2015 November 4, Joseph Stromberg, “The forgotten history of how automakers invented the crime of "jaywalking"”, in Vox, archived from the original on 08 Mar 2018:
3. A member of a decision-making body (such as a committee) for a larger organization or entity (including some public agencies), similar to or equivalent to a board of directors (used especially for banks); a member of the board of governors.
   • The seven members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, www.federalreserve.gov (November 6, 2009)
   • Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and head of the country’s foreign exchange regulator, chaired a symposium with representatives from foreign companies, including JP Morgan, Tesla (TSLA), HSBC (HSBC), Deutsche Bank (DB), BNP Paribas, Japan’s MUFG Bank, German chemical producer BASF, commodities trader Trafigura and Schneider Electric, according to a statement posted on the websites of the PBOC and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). 2023 September 19, Laura He, “China woos Tesla, JP Morgan and other Western companies as foreign investment slumps”, in CNN Business, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2025:
4. (UK, dated, informal) Term of address to a man.
   • "Oh, right you are, governor, if you say so," accepted Fank […] 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
5. (UK, informal) A superior, especially a boss, an employer, or (law enforcement) a superior police officer.
   • DCI Tom Barnaby: ... so far, your detective sergeant is absolutely believable. Nico Bentley: Terrific. Why? Barnaby: You've observed Rule Number 1: Always keep the governor waiting. 2000 February 5, Douglas Watkinson et al., “Beyond the Grave”, in Midsomer Murders:
6. (archaic, informal) Synonym of father.
   • "Say 'father.' We never called him papa; and if one of my brothers had addressed him as 'governor,' as boys do now, I really think he'd have him cut off with a shilling." 1869, Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl:
7. A constituent of a phrase that governs another.
8. (dated) One who has the care or guardianship of a young man; a tutor; a guardian.
9. A pilot; a steersman.

Forms

Coordinates

limiter · synchronizer · regulator · viceroy · modulator · governess · governor general

Deriveds

governorship · cogovernor · archgovernor · lieutenant governor · guv · Governors Island · centrifugal governor · governorly · Governator · subgovernor · gov'nor · guv'nor · gov. · governoress · undergovernor · Governor Generoso · gov

Descendants

kāwana · gobna · gavana · governor · gobharnóir · gaafnoer · governor · govna · gavna · gwamna · gɔbna · gɔvna · kavana · gavana · gabenor · governor

Relateds

Governor-General · Kubernetes · govern · governor-general · Governor General · self-govern · government · governor general · governorate · gubernatorial

Synonyms

bailiff (head of a province) · proconsul (head of a province) · viceroy (head of a province) · tao tai (head of a province) · intendant (head of a province) · circuit intendant (head of a province) · provost (head of a province) · intendant (head of a province) · father · gubernator (head of a province) · seneschal (head of a province) · daotai (head of a province)

Translations (167)

pt governadora (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fa-ira فَرْمانْدار (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ga gobharnóir (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · nn guvernør (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · uli gaafnoer (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · mn захирагч (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fi pääsana (grammar: constituent of a phrase) · oj odaake-ogimaa (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tg ҳоким (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ru регуля́тор (device which regulates or controls) · sl guverner (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · bg губерна́тор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · et valitsejer (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · my ဘုရင်ခံ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · lv valdnieks (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fr gouverneure (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · id gubernur (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · et kuberner (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · bho राज्यपाल (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · hi राज्यपाल (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · sk guvernér (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · hu kormányzó (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · vi thống đốc (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tr vali (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · uk губерна́тор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · lo ເຈົ້າແຂວງ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tt губернатор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · bn রাজ্যপাল (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tg губернатор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ja 調速機 (device which regulates or controls) · fi pomo (informal: boss, employer) · eo guberniestro (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fi johtokunnan jäsen (member of a decision-making body for some organizations) · uz voli (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · sh гувѐрне̄р (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · km ទេសាភិបាល (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · sv regulator (device which regulates or controls) · twf tòbúna (of pueblo) (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · lo ເຈົ້າເມືອງ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · de Gouverneur (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · kk губернатор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · izh gubernaattori (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · cop ⲡⲁⲅⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ar مُحَافِظ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ps حاکم (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · pl guwerner (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ro guvernant (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tk gubernator (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · hy նահանգապետ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · gd riaghladair (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · bg регула́тор (device which regulates or controls) · eo reganto (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · nv naatʼáanii (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · lv gubernators (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · sv centrifugalregulator (device which regulates or controls) · bg губерна́торка (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · eo gubernatoro (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fi herra (informal: term of address to a man) · sw liwali (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · sv guvernör (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ky губернатор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · rif řɛamiř (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · hi गवर्नर (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · km អភិបាល (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · mn ᠵᠠᠬᠢᠷᠤᠭᠴᠢ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · el κυβερνήτης (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tg фармондор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · vi thống sử (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · be губэрна́тарка (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ka გუბერნატორი (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · de Regler (device which regulates or controls) · ca regulador (device which regulates or controls) · pl gubernator (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tr guvernör (member of a decision-making body for some organizations) · ka რეგულატორი (device which regulates or controls) · be губерна́тар (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · enm governour (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · st mmusi (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · haw kiaʻaina (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · grc κυβερνήτης (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · da guvernør (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · nl regelaar (device which regulates or controls) · nb (on Svalbard) sysselmann (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · pt governador (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · nl gouverneur (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tk häkim (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fi säädin (device which regulates or controls) · uk губерна́торка (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · cs guvernér (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · lt valdytojas (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · es gobernador (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · got 𐌺𐌹𐌽𐌳𐌹𐌽𐍃 (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ko 지사 (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · is fylkisstjóri (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fa-ira والی (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · is guvernör (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fr gouverneur (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · it governatrice (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · he מוֹשֵׁל (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · cop ⲉⲡⲁⲣⲭⲟⲥ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ur والی (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · cs guvernérka (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ur حاکِم (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · pt regulador (device which regulates or controls) · mi kāwana (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ro regulator (device which regulates or controls) · ja 知事 (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ka კატაბანი (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · be губерна́тарка (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · sh guvèrnēr (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · gl gobernador (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ps والي (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · th ผู้ว่าราชการ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · nb guvernør (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · mn ᠤᠳᠤᠷᠢᠳᠤᠭᠴᠢ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · af goewerneur (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · eo guberniento (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ko 주지사 (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ja 調整器 (device which regulates or controls) · ka მმართველი (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fi kuvernööri (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ro guvernator (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ha gwamna (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tg волӣ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · be рэгуля́тар (device which regulates or controls) · hi हाकिम (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · az hakim (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · it governatore (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tr ilbay (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · grc ἀρχηγέτης (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ms gabenor (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · eu gobernadore (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · uz hokim (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · es gobernadora (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ar وَالٍ (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · is landstjóri (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · az qubernator (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · is ríkisstjóri (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · cmn 省長 /省长 (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ar حَاكِم (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ko 도지사 (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · lt gubernatorius (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · cic minko' (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · la gubernātor (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · gd rianadair (device which regulates or controls) · mk губернатор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · kmr parêzgar (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ru губерна́тор (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · uk регуля́тор (device which regulates or controls) · mn удирдагч (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · om bulchaa (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · uz gubernator (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ur گَوَرْنَر (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · la gubernātrīx (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · de Gouverneurin (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · cmn 州長 /州长 (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tl gobernador (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · tt вали (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · cs regulátor (device which regulates or controls) · ny bwanamkubwa (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · be губэрна́тар (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · mr राज्यपाल (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fo guvernørur (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · ca governador (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · fa-ira حاکِم (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · nn (on Svalbard) sysselmann (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country) · kmr walî (chief executive officer of first-level division of a country)