governor
noun
gov·er·nor
ˈgə-vᵊn-ər 
also ˈgə-vər-nər
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
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)
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
The bill initially passed 87-36 in the House and 30-9 in the Senate — both above the two-thirds threshold necessary to enact legislation into law over the governor’s objection.
—
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Minnesota has never had a governor who wasn’t a white man.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, representatives from the governor’s office and other local and state officials are expected to attend, the Children’s Alliance said.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The House and Senate must both agree on a spending plan before sending it to the governor.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for governor
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.
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Minnesota has never had a governor who wasn’t a white man.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, representatives from the governor’s office and other local and state officials are expected to attend, the Children’s Alliance said.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The House and Senate must both agree on a spending plan before sending it to the governor.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for governor
Cite this Entry
“Governor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/governor. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
governor
noun
gov·er·nor
ˈgəv(-ə)-nər
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
noun
-ˌship
Legal Definition
governor
noun
gov·er·nor
ˈgə-vər-nər
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
