governor-general

noun

gov·​er·​nor-gen·​er·​al ˈgə-vᵊn-ər-ˈjen-rəl How to pronounce governor-general (audio)
-ˈje-nə-,
 also  ˈgə-vər-nər-
plural governors-general or governor-generals
: a governor of high rank
especially : one who governs a large territory or has deputy governors under him

Examples of governor-general in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Glen, known for his role as the loyal Jorah Mormont in HBO’s fantasy series, will portray Leonard Wood, the U.S. Army major who served as governor-general of the Philippines from 1921-1927. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025 During his time in Manila, where he had been posted as ambassador to help stabilize the coup-prone administration of Corazon Aquino, his office was part of the old American governor-general’s suite. Alan Cowell, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of governor-general was in 1579

Cite this Entry

“Governor-general.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/governor-general. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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