Definition
The maximum rotational speed (rpm) at which an engine or propeller is allowed to operate, as controlled by a governor. In a constant-speed propeller system, governed speed is the rpm selected by the pilot through the propeller control; the governor automatically adjusts blade pitch to hold that rpm regardless of changes in airspeed, power, or attitude.
Plain English
The rpm setting that an automatic device (the governor) holds steady for you. You pick the rpm you want, and the system keeps it there by adjusting the propeller blades.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of constant-speed propellers, propeller control use, and engine RPM during takeoff, climb, and cruise.
Derivation
From govern, meaning to control or regulate. A governor is a device that keeps something within set limits — in this case, holding rpm at the value the pilot has selected.
Why Pilots Care
Maintaining the selected governed speed keeps the engine in its most efficient operating range, protects against overspeed damage, and optimizes performance for climb, cruise, or descent.
Analogy
Like cruise control in a car: you set the speed you want, and the system makes small adjustments to hold it steady, even going up or down hills.
Intuition Check
Governed speed does not mean the airplane’s legal speed limit or its maximum safe speed. Here, governed means actively controlled, and speed means rotational speed in RPM.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, the pilot reduced the propeller control to climb rpm, and the governor smoothly held the engine at that governed speed.
Example Sentence 2
During the climb the propeller remained at its governed speed even as airspeed increased.