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REFERENCE

governor

n.
US //ˈɡəvɝnɝ// UK //ɡˈʌvənɐ// gov·er·nor
  1. 1 political leader (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Politics

    the person in charge of a state, province, or colony.

    the chief executive official of a first-level administrative division, such as a state or province.

    Example

    The governor of California signed the new law yesterday morning.

    Example

    The governor exercised her veto power to block the controversial legislation, citing concerns over its long-term fiscal impact on the state budget.
  2. 2 board member (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a member of a group that makes important decisions for an organization like a school or bank.

    a member of a governing body or board of directors responsible for the oversight of an institution.

    Example

    The school governors met to discuss the budget for the next year.

    Example

    As a governor of the central bank, he was responsible for voting on interest rate adjustments to curb rising inflation.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 mechanical regulator (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a part of a machine that automatically controls its speed.

    a mechanical device used to regulate the speed or power of an engine or machine through automatic feedback.

    Example

    The engine has a governor to prevent it from running too fast.

    Example

    The steam engine's centrifugal governor ensures that the machinery maintains a constant speed regardless of the varying load applied to it.
  2. 4 boss or father (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    an informal word for your boss or your father.

    an informal or colloquial term used to refer to one's employer, father, or a person in authority.

    Example

    I'll have to ask the governor if I can take Friday off.

    Example

    He spent the afternoon working in the garage with his governor, fixing up an old motorbike they had bought at auction.
  3. 5 term of address (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Informal Dialect

    a polite but informal way to address a man, often shortened to 'guv'.

    a traditional, informal term of address for a man, typically used by someone of a lower social or professional status.

    Example

    Excuse me, governor, do you have the time?

    Example

    The taxi driver tipped his cap and said, 'That will be ten pounds, governor,' as we reached the station.

    Teacher's tip

    This usage is increasingly rare and often associated with older generations or specific working-class dialects in London.
Origin

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.

Word family

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