executive session

noun

: a usually closed session (as of a legislative body) that functions as an executive council (as of the U.S. Senate when considering appointments or the ratification of treaties)

Examples of executive session in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The decision came during an executive session at a meeting in May 2023, with no details of the deliberations, state records show. Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025 The commission exited executive session around 5:45 p.m. Upon exiting executive session Moya called for a vote that Hauck be removed from administrative leave and be reinstated effective immediately. Grace Hurt, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2025 The board first met for a closed executive session to discuss the district's memberships in the Educational Theatre Association, the Theatre National Association for Music Education and the Music and National Dance Education Organization. Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025 If the matters to be handled by the committee are executive session items, the formation of the committee itself still should be an open session item, which informs the membership that some closed session items will not be handled by the entire board of directors. Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for executive session

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of executive session was in 1840

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Cite this Entry

“Executive session.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20session. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Legal Definition

executive session

noun
: a closed session (as of the U.S. Senate) in which executive business (as consideration of appointments or ratification of treaties) is taken care of compare legislative session
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