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

Little Rock housing commissioners spent about 30 minutes in executive session on Thursday. —Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 23 Apr. 2026

Some have pointed to a 1980 precedent holding that the motion to enter executive session for a discharge vote is non-debatable — meaning Thune could get Warsh into the room without a cloture vote. —Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026

Afterward, the panel was to break into executive session to conclude its deliberations and reach a judgment. —Lauren Peller, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026

Councilors spent more than 90 minutes in executive session Wednesday during a special meeting to discuss the employment status of Halburnt and Hayashi. —Jennifer Kovaleski, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for executive session

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

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