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

See execution defined for English-language learners

See execution defined for kids

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 of execution from the Web

The court claims that al-Werfalli — who operates under the Libyan National Army (LNA) — committed the war crime of murder over a series of brutal executions.

— mark kersten, Washington Post, "Will the International Criminal Court’s latest target in Libya be brought to justice?," 31 Aug. 2017
In the security crackdown after those attacks, around 80,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, bringing accounts of summary executions, mass rape and villagers burned alive in their homes.

— nick cumming-bruce, New York Times, "More than 8,700 Rohingya Flee Myanmar Fighting This Week," 29 Aug. 2017
Bran was referencing an incident from way back in Season 1, when Baelish betrayed Ned Stark, consigning the honorable family patriarch to execution.

— spencer kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Bran Stark and the Problem of Omniscience," 29 Aug. 2017
Topics covered will include startup strategy and execution, product development, project management, digital and social media marketing, user experience design, human resources and team management and organizational development.

— nancy dahlberg, miamiherald, "Entrepreneurship degree students will be taught by Facebook, Lyft, tech and media execs," 28 Aug. 2017
Littlefinger’s execution was a remarkable feat of sibling teamwork: Sansa read the charges, Bran provided the receipts, and Arya delivered the final blow.

— anna silman, The Cut, "On Game of Thrones, Sisters Finally Did It for Themselves," 28 Aug. 2017
Michelle Glady, a spokeswoman for the corrections department, said there were no complications during Asay’s execution.

— jen kirby, Daily Intelligencer, "Florida Executes Death-Row Inmate With Drug Never Before Used in Lethal Injections," 24 Aug. 2017
The main character Hank Morgan, a time traveler from the 1800s stuck back in the 6th century, uses his knowledge of a total eclipse to save himself from execution.

— doyle rice, The Courier-Journal, "From Bonnie Tyler to 'Connecticut Yankee': How eclipses worked their way into pop culture," 15 Aug. 2017
Her bad choice there stood in stark (ahem) contrast to Jon Snow’s execution of Janos Slynt just one episode later.

— joanna robinson, vanityfair.com, "Game of Thrones: 8 Easter Eggs and Callbacks You Might Have Missed in “Eastwatch”," 14 Aug. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of execution

Middle English execucion, from Anglo-French, from Latin exsecution-, exsecutio, from exsequi to execute, from ex- + sequi to follow — more at sue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

execution Synonyms

Synonyms

accomplishment, achievement, discharge, enactment, commission, fulfillment (or fulfilment), implementation, performance, perpetration, prosecution, pursuance

Antonyms

nonfulfillment, nonperformance

Related Words

dispatch, expedition; administration, direction, handling, management; application, operation, practice (also practise)

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

EXECUTION Defined for English Language Learners

execution

noun

Definition of execution for English Language Learners

: the act of killing someone especially as punishment for a crime
: the act of doing or performing something

EXECUTION Defined for Kids

execution

noun ex·e·cu·tion \ ˌek-sə-ˈkyü-shən \

Definition of execution for Students

1 :the act of killing someone as a legal penalty

2 :the act of doing or performing something

execution of a plan

Law Dictionary

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