This category primarily comprises titles and styles of offices that could be rendered in English as governor or similar offices such as governor-general or viceroy, essentially high officials representing a state's government and/or head of state, either in a dependent polity or at a lower administrative level (province, region, community, constituent state etc.).

However, since there is no technically correct way to classify these, also included are a number of 'diplomatic' positions that are formally not gubernatorial but often perform the same functions, under the alternative colonial system of indirect rule, where they work in conjunction with traditional native authorities, usually princely or tribal.