governess

noun

gov·​ern·​ess ˈgə-vər-nəs 

1

: a woman who governs

2

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

Examples of governess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like many young women of her generation, Lady Anne was educated at home by a governess and reportedly excelled at music and languages. —Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026

Coming from humbler circumstances than Hedda, who is a general’s daughter, Thea previously worked as a governess before marrying her employer, a widower two decades her senior. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026

While past seasons of the show have introduced governesses and household managers, those characters have always remained auxiliary to Bridgerton’s central love stories. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026

Like Jane Eyre—a governess who fell for her affluent employer—Woodley’s character, a young single mother, is a broke outsider in an exclusive community. —Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

governess

noun

gov·​ern·​ess ˈgəv-ər-nəs 

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