executive privilege

noun

: exemption from legally enforced disclosure of communications within the executive branch of government when such disclosure would adversely affect the functions and decision-making processes of the executive branch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Depending on Pence’s responses, prosecutors could ask a judge to compel him to answer additional questions and override Trump’s executive privilege claims. —

Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023 Federal courts have rejected Trump’s executive privilege claim to keep documents confidential. —

Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2022 President Joe Biden had waived Trump’s executive privilege claims as the current officeholder. —

Time, 9 Dec. 2021 President Joe Biden had waived Trump’s executive privilege claims as the current officeholder. —

Eric Tucker, chicagotribune.com, 9 Dec. 2021 Trump no longer has the option of sheltering behind the ambiguous shield of executive privilege. —

Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022 The move by the Justice Department sets up a potential clash over the issue of executive privilege, if the former president chooses to fight the Pence subpoena. —

NBC News, 12 Feb. 2023 Former President Donald Trump's last-minute assertion of executive privilege forced a postponement in the trial of former trade adviser Peter Navarro on two counts of contempt of Congress. —

Julius Lasin, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023 There is no precedent for a current or former president to successfully invoke executive privilege to keep the Justice Department — a part of the executive branch — from viewing executive branch materials in a criminal investigation. —

Charlie Savage, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'executive privilege.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of executive privilege was in 1909

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near executive privilege

executive order

executive privilege

executive secretary

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Executive privilege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20privilege. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

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