executive

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​ec·​u·​tive ig-ˈze-k(y)ə-tiv How to pronounce executive (audio)
-kyü-
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

executive

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples of executive in a Sentence

Adjective 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. Noun 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 on the Web
Adjective
Oscar betting isn’t a new phenomenon, said Brett Abarbanel, executive director of the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Hallie Lieberman, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 The structures are attuned to their natural environment and add to the state’s sense of place, says Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of Historic Hawaii Foundation. Kristina Linnea Garcia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 Thomas Lozano, the deputy executive director of California Tribal College, said this partnership is momentous. Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 In the Dickinson area, workers and their families total about 50 Ukrainians, including roughly 10 young children, said Carter Fong, executive director of Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce. Jack Dura, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 In Arizona, records showed that Chesebro was communicating with then-state Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward; the party's executive director, Greg Safsten, who was also an elector; local attorneys; Trump campaign officials and others connected to his campaign. Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Josh Dawsey The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 8 Mar. 2024 Tom Content, executive director of the Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board, said competitive bidding could be especially important for controlling the cost of the transmission line, which at 765 kilovolts is unlike anything previously built by companies operating in Wisconsin. Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 The company’s executive team now receives daily checklists from AI for better oversight and theme identification, significantly improving customer satisfaction and retention. George Davis, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Wilcox was a writer and/or executive story editor on 36 episodes of M*A*S*H from 1979-83 as well as a producer, starting in 1981, on the CBS show’s last two seasons. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
The 30-minute special, executive produced by David Chamberlin, highlights Oscar nominees, performers and presenters, and red-carpet arrivals. Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2024 But the victims’ families are hardly satisfied with that statement or other apologies issued by Boeing and its executives over the last five years. Chris Isidore, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 This Marilyn chatbot feels like a new way to use her, much like the men — studio executives, fellow actors, husbands, directors — who abused her in her lifetime. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 But after spending almost seven years behind bars waiting through legal delays and COVID, she is scheduled to go on trial for the murder of her husband, celebrity hairdresser and beauty executive Fabio Sementilli. Michelle Miller, CBS News, 9 Mar. 2024 Limits on executive compensation and higher taxes for the wealthy Biden had already called for raising income taxes on the richest Americans and for much heavier taxation of billionaires. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Sue Desmond-Hellmann, former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Nicole Seligman, a former Sony general counsel; and Fidji Simo, the CEO and chair of grocery delivery company Instacart and a former Facebook executive, are the others joining the board. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 8 Mar. 2024 Fast forward a decade, the Microsoft executive is now a mom to daughter Margot, 22 months, and has learned to use her feet to care for both herself and her daughter, all while working at the forefront of the world of inclusive design. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 The latter three are former senior executives from Pinterest, Snap and Uber, respectively. David Bloom, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'executive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of executive was in 1649

Dictionary Entries Near executive

Cite this Entry

“Executive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

executive

1 of 2 adjective
ex·​ec·​u·​tive ig-ˈzek-(y)ət-iv How to pronounce executive (audio)
1
: of or relating to the carrying out of laws and the conduct of public and national affairs
the executive branch of government
2
: fitted for or relating to the managing or directing of things
executive skills
an executive program for a computer
3
: of or relating to an executive
the executive offices

executive

2 of 2 noun
1
: the executive branch of a government
2
: a person who manages or directs

Legal Definition

executive

1 of 2 adjective
ex·​ec·​u·​tive
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

2 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on executive

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