executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump signed an executive order last year to overhaul elections, including eliminating grace periods for mailed ballots received after Election Day. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026

In January, the president signed an executive order threatening to impose tariffs on goods from countries that sold or provided oil to Cuba. —Alexandra Marquez, NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026

Trump signed an executive order in December to block states from crafting their own regulations. —Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026

Trump signed an executive order in December to block states from crafting their own regulations. —Seung Min Kim, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 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.