execution

noun

ex·e·cu·tion | \ ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shən

Definition of execution

1 : the act or process of executing : performance

2 : a putting to death especially as a legal penalty

3 : the process of enforcing a legal judgment (as against a debtor) also : a judicial writ directing such enforcement

4 : the act or mode or result of performance

5 archaic : effective or destructive action his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution— William Shakespeare —usually used with do as soon as day came, we went out to see what execution we had done— Daniel Defoe

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about execution

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of execution in a Sentence

He is in prison awaiting execution. The quarterback's execution of the play was perfect. skillful execution of the dance steps

Recent Examples on the Web

Scott Dozier is one of almost 3,000 incarcerated people awaiting execution in the United States. — Abdullah Shihipar, Teen Vogue, "Lethal Injection Drugs and the Death Penalty, Explained," 30 Oct. 2018 The newest take on tattoos at New York Fashion Week was dreamed up with a more delicate execution in mind. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "These Delicate Lace Tattoos on the Dion Lee Runway Looked So Real, They Were Mistaken for Fabric," 9 Sep. 2018 In 1995, satellite images provided evidence of mass executions in Srebrenica, in former Yugoslavia. — Melinda Laituri, Scientific American, "Should We Always Trust What We See in Satellite Images?," 4 June 2018 Cooper, 60, is awaiting execution for the 1983 Chino Hills hatchet and knife killings of four people. — Crimesider Staff, CBS News, "Sen. Kamala Harris: Calif. should test DNA of inmate condemned amid controversy," 21 May 2018 New Hampshire has not carried out an execution since 1939 and only one inmate currently sits on the state’s death row. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "The death penalty continues to slowly die.," 27 Apr. 2018 The Supreme Court in 2002 barred execution of mentally disabled people but has given states some discretion to decide how to determine intellectual disability. — Juan A. Lozano, The Seattle Times, "Supreme Court rules out death penalty for Texas inmate," 19 Feb. 2019 The previous day, Islamic State released a video showing the execution of two SDF hostages, the observatory said. — Raja Abdulrahim, WSJ, "U.S.-Backed Forces Push to Capture Islamic State’s Last Territory in Syria," 11 Feb. 2019 First, there's Ohashi's flawless execution of her tumbling passes and incredible splits. — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "UCLA Gymnast Katelyn Ohashi's Perfect 10 Floor Routine Is Everything You Need In Your Life Right Now," 14 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'execution.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about execution

Dictionary Entries near execution

Statistics for execution

Last Updated

9 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for execution

The first known use of execution was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for execution

execution

noun

English Language Learners Definition of execution

: the act of killing someone especially as punishment for a crime

: the act of doing or performing something

See the full definition for execution in the English Language Learners Dictionary

execution

noun

ex·e·cu·tion | \ ˌek-sə-ˈkyü-shən

Kids Definition of execution

1 : the act of killing someone as a legal penalty

2 : the act of doing or performing something execution of a plan

execution

noun

ex·e·cu·tion | \ ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shən

Legal Definition of execution

1 : the act or process of executing witnessed the execution of the will

2 : a putting to death as fulfillment of a judicial death sentence

3 : the process of enforcing a judgment (as against a debtor) also : a judicial writ (as fieri facias) by which an officer is empowered to carry a judgment into effect — see also levy