execution

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

Updated on: 18 May 2018

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 Company’s strategy, operations, execution and leadership . . .

— andy rosen, BostonGlobe.com, "In fight to stay atop athenahealth, Jonathan Bush might just have a shot," 14 May 2018
Illinois banned its death penalty in 2011, but the state had halted executions long before that.

— mark berman, Washington Post, "Illinois governor wants the state to revive its death penalty for mass murderers and people who kill police," 14 May 2018
Considering Rihanna's unstoppable aesthetic empire, at this point, bold beauty executions are par for the course.

— calin van paris, Vogue, "Rihanna Has a Femme Fatale Beauty Secret to Feeling More Confident in Lingerie," 11 May 2018
From the dense and cheesy comfort of deep dish pies to the rarified pleasures of thin crisp Neapolitan pizza, there's a style and execution that's favorite to almost every taste.

— beth segal, cleveland.com, "Il Rione Pizzeria: A passion for pizza in Gordon Square," 11 May 2018
This changes the threat model from requiring the attacker to have code execution on the victim (through JavaScript or natively) to merely being able to send network packets to an open port.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "Packets over a LAN are all it takes to trigger serious Rowhammer bit flips," 10 May 2018
Saudi Arabia cuts all diplomatic and commercial ties with Iran, responding to the ransacking of its diplomatic compounds in the country by Iranians angry over Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

— margherita stancati, WSJ, "Iran Resists U.S. Demands Before Trump’s Decision on Nuclear Pact," 7 May 2018
Most players expected something to this effect, and yet the Fortnite community has been effusive in its praise for how the build up and eventual execution was pulled off.

— nick statt, The Verge, "Fortnite is the biggest game on the planet right now because it’s a living, breathing world," 6 May 2018
Defense attorneys in death penalty cases investigate the defendant’s background to try and convince jurors not to recommend execution.

— gal tziperman lotan, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Defendant in Altamonte Springs woman's killing asks judge for more food in jail," 4 May 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

execution Synonyms

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