lieutenant governor

noun

: a deputy or subordinate governor: such as

a

: an elected official serving as deputy to the governor of an American state

b

: the formal head of the government of a Canadian province appointed by the federal government as the representative of the crown

lieutenant governorship noun

Examples of lieutenant governor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Opposite William Franklyn-Miller as a young George Washington, Kingsley plays Robert Dinwiddie, a real-life British administrator who served as Virginia's lieutenant governor in the country's colonial era. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

While the majority of states have lieutenant governors, there are exceptions. — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 2 July 2026

Patrick, who was first elected as lieutenant governor in 2014, was a TV sports broadcaster and radio talk-show host. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026

Fishback is the second major candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial race to announce their lieutenant governor pick. — Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lieutenant governor

noun

1

: an elected official serving as deputy to the governor of an American state

2

: the formal head of the government of a Canadian province appointed to represent the crown