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

His sister Jody Allen, the executor of his will and trust, has run the teams in his absence. —Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 7 May 2026

Her sister, Marsie Scharlatt, one of the estate’s executors, was tasked with establishing an archive of Wilke’s art and materials in Los Angeles, becoming the main contact for curators and galleries researching her work. —Angelica Villa, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026

His sister Jody Allen has been running the team as the executor of the estate, and is overseeing the selling of his assets to raise money for charity. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 May 2026

Donaldson represents the literary estate of Irving Wallace and Wallechinsky is Wallace’s son and executor of the estate. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Apr. 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