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
Under existing rules, the governor appoints all five CPUC commissioners, who are then confirmed by the state senate.
—
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
One of his former top aides, Gabriel Sterling, lost the Republican primary for secretary of state, and Raffensperger fell short of a runoff for the GOP nomination in his campaign for governor.
—Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 26 May 2026
The state’s biggest energy utility has made the unusual move to attack candidate Tom Steyer in the California governor’s race.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
But in the wake of the Supreme Court decision, some state lawmakers and the governor delayed some of Alabama's House elections, although others were held on May 19 as scheduled.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for governor
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Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
One of his former top aides, Gabriel Sterling, lost the Republican primary for secretary of state, and Raffensperger fell short of a runoff for the GOP nomination in his campaign for governor.
—Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 26 May 2026
The state’s biggest energy utility has made the unusual move to attack candidate Tom Steyer in the California governor’s race.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
But in the wake of the Supreme Court decision, some state lawmakers and the governor delayed some of Alabama's House elections, although others were held on May 19 as scheduled.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 26 May 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 28 May. 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
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