executive

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

|Updated on: 11 Jun 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

Until he was blocked by the courts, President Donald Trump has tried to end in the DACA program, which former President Barack Obama created through executive action.

— ronald j. hansen, azcentral, "Rep. Paul Gosar: Comprehensive immigration reform is a 'crap sandwich'," 7 June 2018
To extend the amphibian analogy, this illustrates a combination of executive activism and congressional dysfunction that has been simmering for decades.

— The Economist, "Donald Trump’s powers are not quite as vast as his lawyers claim," 7 June 2018
Glass + Griddle, the restaurant that will open next to Milwaukee Brewing's new site in the Brewery complex, has hired its executive chef: Kyle Toner, formerly of Wolf Peach.

— carol deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Former Wolf Peach chef going to new Glass + Griddle restaurant at the Brewery," 7 June 2018
The company will also be required to change its board of directors and executive team within 30 days.

— Anchorage Daily News, "U.S. strikes deal to help China's ZTE company avoid collapse," 7 June 2018
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is said to want to rely on legislation to tighten controls, instead of an executive move imposing sweeping new limits, according to three people familiar with the matter.

— Fortune, "$25 Billion? $70 Billion? Whatever It Is, China's Offer to Buy More U.S. Goods Falls Well Short of Trump's Demand," 6 June 2018
Mena Suvari and Jennifer Bartels play her best friends in a story inspired by the mother of actress/co-executive producer Kyle Richards (ER, Little House on the Prairie).

— ellen gray, Philly.com, "Summer TV: Dragon-free but still plenty to see," 6 June 2018
Trump’s legal team has also argued that the president shouldn’t have to answer any questions, even if Mueller issues a grand jury subpoena, citing Trump’s executive authority.

— shannon pettypiece, Bloomberg.com, "Giuliani Readies Formal Call for FBI Documents in Mueller Talks," 6 June 2018
On the executive branch front, the Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday announced plans for a June 19 meeting of the International Wildlife Conservation Council.

— Science | AAAS, "Biomedical group weighs in on U.S. court fight over wildlife imports," 5 June 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

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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

Calista officials said the corporation's code of conduct places clear limits on individual board members' authority, which arose from past, acrimonious conflicts between the board and company executives.

— nathaniel herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Court filings expose power struggle over sex harassment charges at Native corporation Calista," 8 June 2018
The first tranche of credit, worth $15bn, will be disbursed shortly after the IMF’s executive board approves the deal on June 20th.

— The Economist, "The IMF hands Mauricio Macri a vote of confidence," 8 June 2018
Over the past 12 months, Brightline and parent company Florida East Coast Industries have seen a cascade of executive changes.

— rob wile, miamiherald, "Brightline shuffles leadership team -- again -- as its business model faces scrutiny," 7 June 2018
In the last few months, Facebook executives have repeatedly been forced to apologize to users for failing to protect their privacy.

— sheera frenkel, New York Times, "Facebook Bug Changed Privacy Settings of Up to 14 Million Users," 7 June 2018
In an expose, The Ringer's Ben Detrick reported that the accounts posted from April 2016 to last week and criticized players like Jahlil Okafor and Markelle Fultz, coach Brett Brown and executives such as Sam Hinkie.

— charlotte carroll, SI.com, "76ers, Bryan Colangelo Part Ways After Burner Twitter Accounts Scandal Connected To His Wife," 7 June 2018
Toward the Future Camilla Fox, founder and executive director of Project Coyote, a predator-advocacy nonprofit based about an hour from where Dietrich spotted the coyote, also supports the mutation hypothesis.

— callie broaddus, National Geographic, "Blue-Eyed Coyote Could Be One in a Million," 4 June 2018
Daniel Grushkin is co-founder and executive director of Genspace, and founder of the Biodesign Challenge.

— daniel grushkin, STAT, "Biohackers are about open-access to science, not DIY pandemics. Stop misrepresenting us," 4 June 2018
The founder and executive director of Food Connect, Kulshreshtha, 30, collects about 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of food a month, much of it from restaurants and caterers.

— alfred lubrano, Philly.com, "Food rescuers race to battle waste, hunger," 4 June 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