executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

About 150 state employees turned out for Wednesday’s demonstration, substantially fewer workers compared to the first rally unions hosted in March 2025, shortly after Newsom first issued his second, more onerous telework executive order. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026

The president also signed an executive order on Saturay that aims to boost research and relax restrictions on psychedelics, including the drug ibogaine, which is used in some countries to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026

The action follows an executive order issued last year directing federal agencies to begin the reclassification process, which typically unfolds over several years and involves scientific review, interagency coordination and rulemaking procedures. —Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026

During the arguments, the justices seemed inclined to find that Trump can’t change the rules for birthright citizenship through an executive order. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 23 Apr. 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.