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Definition of governor noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

governor

noun
 
 
/ˈɡʌvənə(r)/
 
/ˈɡʌvərnər/
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  1.  
    (also Governor)
    a person who is the official head of a country or region that is governed by another country
    • the former governor of the colony
    • He was confirmed as the provincial governor for another five-year term.
    Extra Examples
    • The report was written by a former governor of the province.
    • She was appointed as acting governor until an election could be held.
    • They voted to recall the sitting governor.
    • He will take office as interim governor pending fresh elections.
    Topics Politicsb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • deputy
    • lieutenant
    • acting
    • …
    verb + governor
    • appoint
    • appoint somebody (as)
    • elect
    • …
    phrases
    • a board of governors
    See full entry
  2.  
    (also Governor)
    a person who is chosen to be in charge of the government of a state in the US
    • the governor of Arizona
    • the Arizona governor
    • Governor Bev Perdue
    Extra Examples
    • She has officially launched her campaign to become state governor.
    • Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • deputy
    • lieutenant
    • acting
    • …
    verb + governor
    • appoint
    • appoint somebody (as)
    • elect
    • …
    phrases
    • a board of governors
    See full entry
  3.  
    (especially British English) a member of a group of people who are responsible for controlling an institution such as a school, a college or a hospital
    • One way of getting things changed is to become a school governor.
    • the board of governors of the college
    Extra Examples
    • She served as a parent governor at her children's school.
    • I'll have to present my plan to the board of governors.
    Topics Jobsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • deputy
    • lieutenant
    • acting
    • …
    verb + governor
    • appoint
    • appoint somebody (as)
    • elect
    • …
    phrases
    • a board of governors
    See full entry
  4.  
    (British English) a person who is in charge of an institution
    • A copy of the report was sent to the prison governor.
    • He is a former governor of the Bank of England.
    • (informal) I can't decide. I'll have to ask the governor (= the person in charge, who employs somebody).
    see also guv’nor
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • deputy
    • lieutenant
    • acting
    • …
    verb + governor
    • appoint
    • appoint somebody (as)
    • elect
    • …
    phrases
    • a board of governors
    See full entry
    5. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French governeour, from Latin gubernator, from gubernare ‘to steer, rule’, from Greek kubernan ‘to steer’.
See governor in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee governor in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: governor

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adjective
 
 
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