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

For example, if the ballot measure were in effect and the governor was recalled, the lieutenant governor would take their place until a successor was picked in a special election. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

In the 2022 midterm cycle, Jentleson went to work for the Democratic Senate primary campaign of John Fetterman, then the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, running in the Democratic Senate primary. — Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026

Geoff Duncan, a former GOP lieutenant governor of Georgia who spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, lost the Democratic primary for governor this year. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026

Husted spent nearly 25 years in Ohio politics, as a state lawmaker, House speaker, secretary of state and lieutenant governor, before being tapped to fill Vance’s Senate seat. — Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 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