executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s executive order wiped out policies aimed at protecting transgender adults from discrimination. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

That’s the right interpretation of the 14th Amendment and reaffirms the 1898 precedent that the president tried to upend with his executive order purporting to deny citizenship to children of undocumented people. — Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Under the charter, LeVota’s executive order — or any executive order from a sitting county executive — can be reversed by an overriding order from their successor, or by legislative vote or court order. — Ilana Arougheti july 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026

Last May, the president issued an executive order meant to limit and track all research that involves the potential enhancement of dangerous pathogens. — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 7 July 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.