executor

noun

ex·​ec·​u·​tor ig-ˈze-k(y)ə-tər 

or in sense 1

ˈek-sə-ˌkyü- 

1

a

: one who executes something

b

obsolete : executioner

2

a

: the person appointed by a testator to execute a will

b

: literary executor

executorial

ig-ˌze-k(y)ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

Examples of executor in a Sentence

He named his daughter as his executor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Barrow is the sole trustee of the trust and executor of Voletta’s estate. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026

While Houston died in 2012, this Barbie was created in partnership with Pat Houston, executor of Whitney Houston’s estate. — Alexis Mikulski Ruiz, VIBE.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Unless the adult child caregiver is an executor or trustee of the estate, that child also will have to pay his or her own legal fees to defend against any accusations of stealing or poor medical choices, experts said. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026

Even with his professional expertise and years of conversations with his grandmother about her wishes, Ashton, the executor of her estate, said deciding what to do with the house isn't simply a financial calculation. — Sharon Epperson,stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin exsecutor, from exsequi

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing executor

• co-executor
• literary executor

Kids Definition

executor

noun

ex·​ec·​u·​tor ig-ˈzek-(y)ət-ər 

in sense 1 also

ˈek-sə-ˌkyüt- 

1

: a person who executes something

2

: the person named in a will to carry it out

Legal Definition

executor

noun

ex·​ec·​u·​tor ig-ˈze-kyə-tər 

: a person named by a testator to execute or carry out the instructions in a will compare administrator