executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The former for-profit prison was closed in 2021 after then-President Joe Biden’s executive order barred the Department of Justice from contracting with private prisons. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

Trump needs to declare oil shortages a national emergency, Harrell said, and sign an executive order restricting diesel exports. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026

The provisional executive order comes into force immediately but will need congressional approval within 120 days to remain in effect. — ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026

Last week, Newsom issued his AI executive order as public concerns about the burgeoning technology have mounted amid several instances in which AI systems went rogue and attacked other platforms or went beyond the scope of their tasks. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for executive order

• boarder
• border
• corder
• warder
• camcorder
• disorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder

Legal Definition

executive order

noun

: an order issued by a government's executive on the basis of authority specifically granted to the executive branch (as by the U.S. Constitution or a congressional act)

the National Security Agency was created by an executive order

compare proclamation, statute

Note: An executive order from the president does not have the force of law until it is printed in the Federal Register.