governess

noun gov·ern·ess \ ˈgə-vər-nəs \

Definition of governess

1 :a woman who governs

2 :a woman who cares for and supervises a child especially in a private household

See governess defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of governess from the Web

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Round out the dog days with a crooning governess, a singing gumshoe, a power-hungry Scottish general and his scheming spouse and more.

— andrea simakis, cleveland.com, "Summer theater guide: From 'Carrie' to 'The Testament of Mary,' the season sizzles," 13 July 2017
The daughter of John Wenger, a butler, and Marie Foichat, a governess, the former Laurette Madelyn Wenger was born in Baltimore and raised in a Roland Park carriage house owned by the family for whom her parents worked.

— frederick n. rasmussen, baltimoresun.com, "Laurette M. 'Mimi' Scharper, banker and world traveler, dies," 12 June 2017
A few years ago, after returning to Canton to care for her dying grandmother, Sutherland found herself at a crossroads, contemplating another governess gig.

— rand richards cooper, courant.com, "In Our Midst: Cantons In Canton: Take A Swing Out To Matterhorn Mini Golf," 3 June 2017
A mathematician who moved to Peru to work as a governess, Reiche found her calling through a chance meeting with a mathematician who had photographed the Nazca Lines from an airplane.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "How a German Mathematician Took Responsibility for an Ancient Peruvian Artifact," 15 May 2017
Someone told me that the man who introduced the governess Anna Leonowens to the king of Siam was buried in a Bukit Brown tomb, but the casual visitor will be hard-pressed to find it.

— samanth subramanian, New York Times, "How Singapore Is Creating More Land for Itself," 20 Apr. 2017
The Baroness can’t help but worry that the captain has more than an employer’s regard for his children’s governess.

— martha ross, The Mercury News, "Ivanka Trump’s ‘Sound of Music’ diplomacy with Chinese President Xi Jinping," 10 Apr. 2017
Kirby Hoberg is a blithe and sunny Cecily, Jack’s strong-willed and hyper-imaginative ward, whose governess (a prim Maxine Sattizahn) has a romance of her own blossoming with the local rector (soft-spoken and sedate Lee Vogt).

— sam hurwitt, The Mercury News, "Review: Wit runneth over in ‘Importance of Being Earnest’ in Berkeley," 30 Jan. 2017
Nothing much here for a résumé, but perfectly fine, thanks, for the sort of genteel, pass-the-time employment that came Diana's way: governess, cook, nanny, kindergarten teacher.

— Time, "See Photos From the 'Lonely' Childhood That Shaped Princess Diana," 1 Jan. 1950

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'governess.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of governess

15th century

Other Job Terms

factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith

GOVERNESS Defined for English Language Learners

governess

noun

Definition of governess for English Language Learners

: a woman who is paid to care for and teach a child in the child's house

GOVERNESS Defined for Kids

governess

noun gov·ern·ess \ ˈgə-vər-nəs \

Definition of governess for Students

:a woman who teaches and trains a child especially in a private home

Learn More about governess

Spanish Central: Translation of governess Nglish: Translation of governess for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of governess for Arabic speakers

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Definition of governess

Recent Examples of governess from the Web

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GOVERNESS Defined for English Language Learners

governess

Definition of governess for English Language Learners

GOVERNESS Defined for Kids

governess

Definition of governess for Students

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