executive

adjective ex·ec·u·tive \ ig-ˈze-k(y)ə-tiv , -kyü- \

Updated on: 27 May 2018

Definition of executive

1 a : of or relating to the execution of the laws and the conduct of public and national affairs

b : belonging to the branch of government that is charged with such powers as diplomatic representation, superintendence of the execution of the laws, and appointment of officials and that usually has some power over legislation (as through veto) — compare judicial, legislative

2 a : designed for or relating to execution or carrying into effect

executive board

b : having administrative or managerial responsibility

executive director

3 : of or relating to an executive

the executive offices

See executive defined for English-language learners

See executive defined for kids

Examples of executive in a Sentence

She has good executive skills.
He has an executive position in the company.
In the U.S., the President is the head of the executive branch of government.

Recent Examples of executive from the Web

There may be a case for subsidising executive education, but funding it with money for apprenticeships is odd, says Ewart Keep of Oxford University.

— The Economist, "Britain’s apprenticeship levy is causing a boom in MBAs," 24 May 2018
The Chicago Network for 16 years commisioned an annual census of local board and executive diversity, but discontinued it after 2014 because the gains were so marginal, Bensen said.

— alexia elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "More women are landing seats on Illinois' corporate boards, but pace of change is 'glacial'," 24 May 2018
Adrian Molina, co-director, screenwriter and lyricist of Coco, and Erin Scully, executive VP at New Line Pictures, presented the award to Franco.

— melinda newman, Billboard, "Composers John Powell And Germaine Franco Honored at 33rd Annual ASCAP Screen Music Awards," 24 May 2018
But that is no longer the case, said Jeff Hauser, who runs the Revolving Door Project, which investigates executive branch appointments.

— robert schmidt, Bloomberg.com, "Progressives Ask Schumer to Pick Like-Minded Financial Watchdogs," 24 May 2018
In the executive summary, the dissidents proposed targeting $7.5 million in corporate overhead, reducing unnecessary recurring costs, reducing reliance on third parties and vendors, and renegotiating lease costs for a savings of $2 million.

— erin arvedlund, Philly.com, "Shareholders vote in new (female) CEO at Destination Maternity: Marla Ryan," 23 May 2018
The reason: The European Union’s executive arm is pushing an investment spending program that aims to get half a trillion euros of new financing into the economy.

— max colchester, WSJ, "Taxpayers Are on the Hook in Banks’ Financial Engineering," 23 May 2018
Prince George’s County executive candidate Angela Alsobrooks has four times as much to spend in the weeks before the Democratic primary as her main rival, Donna F. Edwards, according to campaign finance reports.

— rachel chason, Washington Post, "Edwards steps up fundraising, but Alsobrooks has far more cash in Prince George’s race," 23 May 2018
The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is creating a new executive role for its educational foundation, creating a shuffle in its leadership.

— jacob beltran, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo announces leadership shuffle, new foundation role," 23 May 2018

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

First Known Use of executive

1649

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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executive Synonyms

Synonyms

administrative, directorial, managerial, supervisory;

Antonyms

nonmanagerial, nonsupervisory;

regulatory;

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

executive

noun

Definition of executive

1 : the executive branch of a government; also : the person or persons who constitute the executive magistracy of a state

2 : a directing or controlling office of an organization

3 : one that exercises administrative or managerial control

See executive defined for English-language learners

Examples of executive in a Sentence

The television network's executives decided not to air the controversial show.
The President is the chief executive of the U.S.
matters of policy controlled by the executive

Recent Examples of executive from the Web

Although it was not noted in the press release, Amazon is a member of FOSI and has an executive on the board.

— nitasha tiku, WIRED, "Congress, Privacy Groups Question Amazon's Echo Dot for Kids," 11 May 2018
Robin McLaurin Williams was the child of established if oddly matched parents; his father was an old-fashioned executive at Ford; his mother was from the South, a Christian Scientist and a model.

— david thomson, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Robin,’ by Dave Itzkoff," 10 May 2018
Seven other executives at the union earned more than him.

— adam ashton, sacbee, "Will SEIU 1000's raises hold back Yvonne Walker's re-election bid? | The Sacramento Bee," 9 May 2018
According to The Athletic’s Richard Deitch, executives at ESPN have thought about adding the position for some time, and used the Pro Bowl as a test, with Louis Riddick ably filling the role.

— rob tornoe, Philly.com, "Joel Embiid's shirt sends a message, ESPN trying something new," 8 May 2018
The Post’s new owner, Sivakumar Ganapathy, is an executive at Asia Public Relations Consultants (APRC), a Malaysian firm which once worked on behalf of the Cambodian government.

— The Economist, "A new owner cows Cambodia’s last independent daily newspaper," 8 May 2018
Just recently, a senior executive at EWC who has a baby girl went online to look for a baby bottle, and there is a blue baby bottle and pink baby bottle, and two different prices for the exact same thing.

— leah bourne, Glamour, "The Pink Tax Revolution Is Here, and It’s Being Led By Women," 7 May 2018
In an interview, Avenatti said that any indication that still more executives at the Trump Organization knew about the effort to reimburse Cohen for the payment to Daniels could lead to further investigation of the Trump family business.

— michael d. shear, maggie haberman, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump undercuts Giuliani," 5 May 2018
In an interview, Avenatti said that any indication that still more executives at the Trump Organization knew about the effort to reimburse Cohen for the payment to Clifford could lead to further investigation of the Trump family business.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Trump is said to know of Stormy Daniels payment months before he denied it," 5 May 2018

First Known Use of executive

1774

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

executive Synonyms

Synonyms

administrant, administrator, director, exec, manager, superintendent, supervisor;

Related Words

codirector, comanager, co-organizer;

middle manager;

boardman, officer, official;

commissioner, minister;

boss, chief, head, leader, president;

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

EXECUTIVE Defined for Kids

executive

adjective ex·ec·u·tive \ ig-ˈze-kyə-tiv \

Definition of executive for Students

1 : fitted for or relating to the managing or directing of things

Claudia showed the executive ability of a corporation president.
—E. L. Konigsburg, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

2 : relating to the carrying out of the law and the conduct of public affairs

the executive branch of government

executive

noun

Definition of executive for Students

1 : a person who manages or directs

a sales executive

2 : the executive branch of a government

Law Dictionary

executive

adjective ex·ec·u·tive

legal Definition of executive

1 : of or relating to the execution or carrying out of laws

serving a warrant is an executive function

; especially : belonging to the branch of government that is charged with such powers as diplomatic representation, overseeing the execution of laws, and appointment of officials — see also administrative — compare judicial, legislative

2 a : of or relating to execution

b : having administrative or managerial responsibility

an executive director

3 : of, relating to, or issued by an executive

an executive pardon

executive

noun

legal Definition of executive

1 a : the executive branch of a government — compare judiciary, legislature

b : the person or persons making up that branch — see also governor, mayor, president

2 : a person who exercises administrative or managerial control

Learn More about executive

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executive

Definition of executive

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First Known Use of executive

executive Synonyms

Synonyms

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Other Business Terms

executive

Definition of executive

Examples of executive in a Sentence

Recent Examples of executive from the Web

First Known Use of executive

executive Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Business Terms

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EXECUTIVE Defined for Kids

executive

Definition of executive for Students

executive

Definition of executive for Students

Law Dictionary

executive

legal Definition of executive

executive

legal Definition of executive

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