executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Republican president signed an executive order that creates a new women’s health division at the National Institutes of Health and a White House task force to focus on the issue. — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Gaiser, who was confirmed in July 2025, had not taken office at that point, and said his office has since reviewed all of the president’s executive orders before they are issued. — Perry Stein, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

However, the order preserves existing sanctions on Russia under earlier executive orders. — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026

DeWine’s executive order and the NCAA’s lawsuit in response mark the latest escalation in a wave of legal maneuvering that is reshaping college sports rules on a state-by-state basis. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 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.