execution

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shən 

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

• accomplishment
• achievement
• commission
• discharge
• enactment
• fulfillment
• fulfilment
• implementation
• performance
• perpetration
• prosecution
• pursuance

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

The logic was sound: own the infrastructure, capture margin, and secure Western chip sovereignty, but execution has been, at best, uneven. —Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

This execution and much of the rest of Materialists is disappointing, with the memory of the very high highs of Song's previous feature, Past Lives, doing it no favors. —Aisha Harris, NPR, 21 June 2025

The analyst highlighted strong price execution in Mondelez's chocolate segment. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 20 June 2025

Under his direct command, the regime has executed hundreds of prisoners in just the past year, including women, and continues to hold the world record for executions and torture. —Ruth Marks Eglash, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing execution

• stay of execution

Rhymes for execution

• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• distribution

Kids Definition

execution

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion ˌek-sə-ˈkyü-shən 

1

: the act or process of executing : a carrying through of something to its finish

put a plan into execution

2

: a putting to death as a legal penalty

3

: the way in which something is executed

Legal Definition

execution

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shən 

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