self-executing
adjective
self-ex·e·cut·ing
ˌself-ˈek-sə-ˌkyü-tiŋ 
: taking effect immediately without implementing legislation
a self-executing treaty
Examples of self-executing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rather than let the judge rule on whether the suit was justiciable at all, the plaintiffs filed a self-executing dismissal—one their own lawyers maintained needed no judicial sign-off—two days before the court’s deadline to address jurisdiction.
—
Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Smart contracts are self-executing agreements coded into the transaction itself as milestones are achieved.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
These self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code automate processes, reducing the need for intermediaries and minimizing operational risks.
—Geoff Ira, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Lynch argued Tuesday that Trump’s executive order is not self-executing and did not immediately prevent transgender people from serving.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Smart contracts are self-executing agreements coded into the transaction itself as milestones are achieved.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
These self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code automate processes, reducing the need for intermediaries and minimizing operational risks.
—Geoff Ira, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Lynch argued Tuesday that Trump’s executive order is not self-executing and did not immediately prevent transgender people from serving.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-executing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-executing. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
