governor

word

/ˈɡəvɝnɝ/
GUH-vur-nur
/ɡˈʌvənɐ/
GUH-vuh-nuh

Definition

A governor is the elected leader of a state or region in some countries, especially the US. It can also mean a person appointed to govern a territory, or a device that controls the speed of a machine.

Usage & Nuances

Most commonly, 'governor' refers to the head of a US state. Common patterns: 'the governor of Texas', 'run for governor', 'the state governor'. In British English, it can also mean a school board member in 'school governor', and informally it may be used as an old-fashioned form of address in some contexts.

Example Sentences

The governor gave a speech on TV last night.

basic

She wants to become the governor of the state.

basic

People are already talking about who might run for governor next year.

natural

The machine stopped because the governor was broken.

basic

The governor stepped in after the storm caused major damage.

natural

I didn’t realize her father was the governor until someone mentioned it.

natural