executive branch

noun

plural executive branches
: the branch of government that is charged with such powers as diplomatic representation, overseeing the execution of the laws, and appointment of officials and that usually has some power over legislation (as through veto) : executive compare judicial branch, legislative branch

Examples of executive branch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The administration has appealed those rulings, arguing the president possesses broad constitutional authority over security clearances and executive branch access. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026 Congress needs to assert its constitutional authority before our country descends even further into chaos and restore the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches. Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 The state’s Republican Party establishment, in desperate need of a rallying cry, enlisted the crusade of one member of the state’s all-Democrat executive branch to convey that message. Editorial, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026 The back-to-back resignations and investigations, spanning both parties and both the legislative and executive branches, have reignited a debate about whether Washington’s rules and institutions for self-oversight can keep pace with the misconduct unfolding within it. Ana Ceballos follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026 Ethics regulations that govern executive branch employees prevent them from participating in gambling activities while on duty for the government or on government property, according to a White House official. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026 The two-judge majority found that the case raised separation of powers concerns, since the judiciary was attempting to investigate executive branch deliberations into matters of national security and foreign policy, areas that are committed to the political branches, not the courts. Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026 ProPublica’s reporting is based on interviews with roughly 30 current or former executive branch officials familiar with the work of Trump loyalists installed in election roles. Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2026 Federal law prohibits executive branch employees, including the president, from discussing certain economic data before and within the first hour after its release. Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of executive branch was in 1779

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Executive branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20branch. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster