What does governor mean?
A governor is, most commonly, the official who governs a state, province, territory, or comparable jurisdiction. In the United States, the term usually means the state's chief executive, as in “the governor of California,” while in other countries it may refer to the leader of a region or a colonial or dependent territory. The word also has institutional and technical meanings: a governor can be the person responsible for a major organization, such as a central bank, or a device that regulates the speed or flow of a machine. The term generally implies formal authority and responsibility, but it can also be used humorously or figuratively for someone who controls a group, event, or activity. Its history comes from Latin gubernare, meaning “to steer” or “direct,” which reflects the traditional metaphor of guiding a ship as a model for directing a state.
nounA governor is an official who has authority over a state, province, territory, or other political jurisdiction. The word can also refer more broadly to the person or body that manages an institution, or to a mechanical device that regulates the speed or flow of something.
- An official appointed or elected to govern a state, province, territory, or other political jurisdiction.
- A person or body that has authority over an institution, organization, or system, such as a central bank or correctional facility.
- A mechanical device that regulates the speed, pressure, or flow of a machine, fluid, or other system.
"The governor of the province announced new investment in public healthcare."
"The governor addressed the legislature about the state's budget."
"The engine governor prevents the turbine from exceeding its safe operating speed."
The standard plural is “governors,” used for multiple officeholders, jurisdictions, or devices of this type.
"The governors of several states jointly called for national reform."
From the Latin word for “steersman,” governor originally described someone who guided a ship; the idea of guiding a vessel became the model for governing a state.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does governor come from?
The word comes through Middle English and Old French from Latin gubernator, meaning “steersman” or “one who governs.” Latin gubernator was derived from gubernare, “to steer” or “direct,” the same root that also underlies government and gubernatorial. The original maritime sense reflected the idea of a person who guides a vessel, before the word developed its political and institutional meanings.
Related word forms
How governor is actually used
In the United States, “governor” commonly refers to the chief executive of a state. In British English and other jurisdictions, it is also widely used for the head of an institution, a prison, a territory, or a financial organization; “provincial governor” and “governor of a central bank” are especially common formal usages. The mechanical sense is technical.
Easily confused with governor
A governor is the individual or officeholding official who governs a jurisdiction, whereas a government is the organization or system that exercises authority.