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
The roles of teacher or governess are the only respectable options open to the young women.
—
Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
Julie Andrews as Maria Andrews starred as Maria, the precocious and inspirational governess who helps the von Trapp kids learn to embrace music and family — and later becomes their stepmother.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Winifred, the protagonist of this Victorian-era grotesque, takes a position as a governess at an English manor.
—The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Deborah Kerr stars as Miss Giddens, a woman working her first job as a governess for a rich bachelor (Michael Redgrave), moving to his country estate to look after two orphans who are in his custody.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for governess
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
Julie Andrews as Maria Andrews starred as Maria, the precocious and inspirational governess who helps the von Trapp kids learn to embrace music and family — and later becomes their stepmother.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Winifred, the protagonist of this Victorian-era grotesque, takes a position as a governess at an English manor.
—The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Deborah Kerr stars as Miss Giddens, a woman working her first job as a governess for a rich bachelor (Michael Redgrave), moving to his country estate to look after two orphans who are in his custody.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for governess
Cite this Entry
“Governess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/governess. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
governess
noun
gov·ern·ess
ˈgəv-ər-nəs
: a woman who teaches and trains a child in a private home
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share