1734, formed in American English from Latin gubernator "a governor" (see Etymology, meaning and definition of govern) + Etymology, meaning and definition of -al (1). OED marks it "Chiefly U.S.," and Century Dictionary says "Chiefly in newspaper use." As English words, gubernator was in use from 1520s, gubernation from mid-15c., but both are rare.
late 13c., "to rule with authority," from Old French governer "to steer, be at the helm of; rule, command, direct" (11c., Modern French gouverner), from Latin gubernare "to direct, rule, guide, govern" (source also of Spanish gobernar, Italian governare).
This is originally "to steer, to pilot," a nautical borrowing from Greek kybernan "to steer or pilot a ship, direct as a pilot," figuratively "to guide, govern" (the root of Etymology, meaning and definition of cybernetics). The -k- to -g- sound shift is perhaps via the medium of Etruscan. The intransitive sense is attested from 1590s. Related: Governed; governing.
c. 1300, gouernour, "personal keeper, protector, guide;" late 14c., "one who governs, a ruler," from Old French governeor "prince, ruler, administrator; helmsman" (11c., Modern French gouverneur) and directly from Latin gubernatorem (nominative gubernator) "director, ruler, governor," originally "steersman, pilot" (see Etymology, meaning and definition of govern). Meaning "subordinate ruler; head of a province, etc." is from late 14c. Meaning "one charged with direction or control of an institution, etc." is from late 14c. Mechanical sense of "self-acting regulator" is from 1819. The adjective Etymology, meaning and definition of gubernatorial remembers the Latin form. There is a record of English governator from 1520s.
suffix forming adjectives from nouns or other adjectives, "of, like, related to, pertaining to," Middle English -al, -el, from French or directly from Latin -alis (see -al (2)).
November 1982 - Comes in fourth in the gubernatorial race for the state of Sao Paulo. —CNN, 23 May 2022
In the 2022 gubernatorial race, Kelly won four out of the five largest counties in the district. —Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2024
What the gubernatorial ads say McCormick made a six-figure ad buy and plans to stay on the air through the election, a campaign spokesperson said. —Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Sep. 2024
Defeats John Sears in the gubernatorial election, with 60% of the vote. —CNN, 13 Oct. 2021
And yet, more often than not over the past three decades, gubernatorial races are won in Connecticut by just a few points, often with less than 50% of the total vote. —Hartford Courant, 12 Oct. 2022
The commonwealth also tends to vote for the party that is not in the White House during its off-year gubernatorial election. —Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2025
Last month, the court delayed the filing deadlines for the then-June gubernatorial primary from Feb. 22 to March 22. —Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2022
Although the bill did not receive final approval from Landry, the time for gubernatorial action - to sign or veto the bill - has lapsed. —CBS News, 19 June 2024
After his landslide victory in the 2022 gubernatorial election, he was viewed as a nascent kingmaker in the party with the best chance to help the party turn the page on Trump. —Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2023
And both states have a tradition of voting against the gubernatorial nominee of the party that won the White House the previous year. —Paul Steinhauser, Fox News, 2 Nov. 2021
That figure is based on the number of votes cast during the last gubernatorial election. —Carleen Johnson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 July 2024
McConaughey, who has been flirting with a gubernatorial run for almost a year now, has polled well against Abbott in the past. —Abigail Rosenthal, Chron, 20 Sep. 2021
The 2026 gubernatorial race is the moment to demand this. —Zac Townsend, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2025
At this point in the last California gubernatorial race, the field of candidates was wide and two debates had been staged. —Erin B. Logan Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2021
Even days later, Lake hasn't conceded the race and is the only swing state gubernatorial candidate who lost this year not to do so. —Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 16 Nov. 2022
The numbers represent a quarter of the votes cast in each district in the 2022 gubernatorial election. —Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 12 June 2024
Lake, the 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee, wanted more than one debate, but Gallego, who is leading in the polls, did not agree to do so. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 6 Oct. 2024
That’s enough to override a gubernatorial veto in that house. —Todd Richmond, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2023
Lots more money will be needed; a record $100 million was spent on the past gubernatorial campaign, with Mr. Shapiro accounting for more than half of it. —Readers, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2023
The gubernatorial race will be decided in 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states as the ruling party scrambles to regain lost ground in key states. —Stephanie Busari, CNN, 17 Mar. 2023
Beto O'Rourke will face off in the first and likely only debate Friday night in the state's gubernatorial election this year. —Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2022
After her narrow loss in the 2022 gubernatorial race, Lake continued to press to overturn the election in court. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Knowing thy enemy is a gift — one Terry McAuliffe's gubernatorial bid has been blessed with just a bit too late, thanks to Politico. —Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 4 Nov. 2021
Recent surveys have shown that the gubernatorial race has been close for months and that Youngkin and President Donald Trump could play an outsize role. —Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Jan. 2025
But last year incumbent Abbott buried O’Rourke in the gubernatorial race by some 11 points. —Dana Liebelson, The New Republic, 29 May 2023
Two days later, Brnovich, who had pondered a gubernatorial bid as well, jumped into the Senate race. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022
Florida Democrats in recent Senate and gubernatorial races have held high hopes that failed to bear fruit. —Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Aug. 2024
Wednesday marks the first time since at least 2003 that one of the major party gubernatorial candidates skipped the forum put on by the farm bureau, which bills itself as the voice of agriculture. —Olivia Krauth, The Courier-Journal, 26 July 2023
As the school board stands firm on its transgender policies, the fight could become one of the defining issues of the upcoming gubernatorial election. —Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025
Reform on the horizon? Between Detroit's mayoral candidates and possible 2026 gubernatorial candidates, there have been a lot of calls to fix or reform public education in the city and state. —Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Videos:
Gubernatorial Meaning
Orange County Mayor and Florida gubernatorial candidate Jerry Demings joins TWISF
Stefanik enters New York gubernatorial race, challenges Hochul
