executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed two executive orders Wednesday aimed at countering antisemitism and preventing city funds from supporting the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. —Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025

Unlike executive orders, they are not required to be published. —Melinda Haas, The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2025

The image also highlights the dissonance between the seemingly endless demands and executive orders coming from the White House, and the spirit of care and generosity that traditionally accompany the holiday season. —Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

Mariana Rodriguez, the director of UMOS' Latina Resource Center, said being responsive to ever-changing executive orders is a stressful balancing act. —Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for executive order

• boarder
• border
• corder
• warder
• camcorder
• disorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder

Legal Definition

executive order

noun

: an order issued by a government's executive on the basis of authority specifically granted to the executive branch (as by the U.S. Constitution or a congressional act)

the National Security Agency was created by an executive order

compare proclamation, statute

Note: An executive order from the president does not have the force of law until it is printed in the Federal Register.