Governor

Pronunciation

UK IPA: /ËˆÉ¡ÊŒv(É™)nÉ™(É¹)/
US IPA: /ËˆÉ¡ÊŒvÉ™É¹nÉ™É¹/
US IPA: /ËˆÉ¡ÊŒvÉ™nÉ™(É¹)/
US IPA: /ËˆÉ¡ÊŒvÉ™nÉ™É¹/

Alternative forms

governour, gouvernor, gouvernour, governer all obsolete

Origin

From Middle English govenour, from Old French gouvreneur, from Latin gubernator, from Ancient Greek ÎºÏ…Î²ÎµÏÎ½Î®Ï„Î·Ï‚ (kybernetes, "steersman, pilot, guide"), from ÎºÏ…Î²ÎµÏÎ½Î¬Ï‰ (kybernao, "to steer, to drive, to guide, to act as a pilot").

Full definition of governor

Noun

governor

(plural governors)

(politics) The leader of a region or state that is a member of a federation or an empire. In Rome, they were endorsed by the emperor and appointed by the Senate. In the modern United States, they are elected by the people of that state.

1999, Karen O'Connor, The essentials of American government: continuity and change, p 17Younger voters are more libertarian in political philosophy than older voters and are credited with the success of libertarian governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota

A device which regulates or controls some action of a machine through automatic feedback.
A member of a decision-making for an 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)
(informal) father.

1869, Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl:"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."

(informal) Boss, employer.
(grammar) A constituent of a phrase that governs another.
(dated) One who has the care or guardianship of a young man; a tutor; a guardian.
(nautical) A pilot; a steersman.