executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The city’s Mayor Brandon Johnson on Saturday signed an executive order directing city police to investigate and document alleged misconduct by federal immigration officers with an eye toward prosecution. —Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026

Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order Saturday directing Chicago police to collect evidence, investigate and potentially refer for felony prosecution criminal charges against federal immigration agents accused of misconduct. —Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026

Earlier, Senate Democrats rejected Republican proposals to address their demands through an executive order or separate legislation, which would not require the existing measure to go back through the House. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026

Because the Gold Card was created through an executive order rather than an act of Congress, it can be changed or eliminated by any future administration. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 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.