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

The New Mexico attorney general filed a lawsuit Wednesday against two of Jeffrey Epstein's closest confidants, seeking to stop them from receiving payments for serving as executors of his estate. — Graham Kates, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Epstein owned the Zorro Ranch for decades Earlier this year, Indyke and Kahn agreed as executors of the estate to settle a class-action lawsuit brought against them by Epstein accusers for up to $35 million. — Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

After Simpson’s death in 1986, her estate (led by Blum, the executor) auctioned off more than 230 lots of jewels and other pieces at a massive two-day sale at Sotheby’s in Geneva. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026

When Hanne, a staff member of a struggling animal rescue, unexpectedly becomes executor of a wealthy hunting family’s estate, a bitter battle over the inheritance erupts. — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 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