executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Such a change would be reminiscent of the Republican president’s unilateral action last year by executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Still, Johnson said in a statement that the change was a product of his executive order. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

The Supreme Court backed part of mail-in ballot executive order. — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

The legal fight will continue, but the president’s executive order could inject fresh uncertainty into the already high-stakes midterm elections. — Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 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.