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

Soon, the governess starts seeing the apparition of the former governess, Miss Jessel, and former valet, Peter Quint, both recently dead. —Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Maika Monroe plays Winifred Notty, a young governess who arrives at the sweeping Ensor House in the 1850s, ready to work for the well-to-do Pounds family. —William Earl, Variety, 20 May 2026

Set in 1858 and adapted by Virginia Feito from her own novel, Victorian Psycho stars Monroe as Winifred Notty, an idiosyncratic young woman who arrives at the wealthy Pounds family’s old gothic manor, claiming to be the house’s new governess. —David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026

Many aspects of the book were inspired by Brontë’s life, including her months working as a governess to help pay her brother Branwell’s debts. —René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 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