Definition of "governor" in English

noun

1. (politics) The chief executive officer of a first-level administrative division of a country.

   • Younger voters are more libertarian in political philosophy than older voters and are credited with the success of libertarian governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota.

2. A device which regulates or controls some action of a machine through automatic feedback.

3. A member of a decision-making body (such as a committee) for a larger 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.

4. (informal) Father.

5. (informal) Boss; employer; gaffer.

6. (UK, informal, dated) Term of address to a man; guv'nor.

7. (grammar) A constituent of a phrase that governs another.

8. (dated) One who has the care or guardianship of a young man; a tutor; a guardian.

9. (nautical) A pilot; a steersman.