executable

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​e·​cut·​able ˈek-si-ˌkyü-tə-bəl 

1

: capable of being executed

an executable plan/strategy

specifically, computers : consisting of or containing coded instructions that can be run without using an assembler or compiler

executable code

A compiler needs to run only once, because it creates an executable file.

—Tom Campbell

2

: having execution (see execution sense 2) as a legal penalty : punishable by death

The report says that the scope of executable offenses is growing beyond internationally accepted boundaries.

—Betsy Pisik

executable

2 of 2

noun

plural executables

: a set of computer instructions (such as a program (see program sense 6a)) that has been prepared so that it can be run by a CPU without additional processing

Though it will no longer infect anyone, running a text file as an executable can crash the operating system.

—Oliver Kaven

The [hacker] group relied on users' familiarity with the Windows folder icons and the File Explorer interface to dupe victims into running malicious executables.

—Liam Tung

Examples of executable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

However, its far-from-perfect showing allowed malware to install many executable files on the test system, dragging that score down to 5.8 points, the lowest among products tested with this sample set. —PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024

Opening the same file in a hex editor—a tool for analyzing and forensically investigating binary files—showed that a combination of tabs, spaces, and new lines were arranged in a way that encoded executable code. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 30 Jan. 2024

One is that no executable code ever touches the hard drive, a technique known as fileless malware that hampers detection by antivirus and other types of endpoint protection software. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2023

Doers contribute practical and constructive insights, shaping ideas into executable plans. —Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

In contrast, Ethereum transactions contain executable code for creating smart contracts or self-executing contracts and applications built on top of them. —The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023

The code might be executable, but this doesn’t also equate to the code doing the right things. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 July 2023

The researchers then used a more advanced AI service called Codex to develop other types of malware, including a reverse shell and scripts for port scanning, sandbox detection, and compiling their Python code to a Windows executable. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 6 Jan. 2023

The first is to view Harry as someone who isn’t terribly good at coming up with executable show ideas — which, well, is probably true. —Vulture, 28 June 2023

Noun

Someone could even make a batch script or tiny executable that enables or disables the touchscreen on the fly. —Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 11 May 2023

Viasat wrote: The analysis in the SentinelLabs report regarding the ukrop binary is consistent with the facts in our report—specifically, SentinelLabs identifies the destructive executable that was run on the modems using a legitimate management command as Viasat previously described. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 31 Mar. 2022

In the case of the Trojanized Windows versions, researchers from CheckPoint said, the attackers used an MSI executable signed with 3CX’s key to load a malicious file named ffmmpeg.dll. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 30 Mar. 2023

The executable in question is also an installer that comes with a license agreement of its own. —Chris Smith, BGR, 25 July 2021

The game’s executable tossed out a D3DDRED2 error, which caused Windows to spawn a LiveKernel 141 (generic hardware component failure) event. —Brad Chacos, PCWorld, 29 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

execute + -able

Noun

derivative of executable entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined above