executive

noun

1

: the executive branch of a government

also : the person or persons who constitute the executive magistracy of a state

2

: a directing or controlling office of an organization

3

: one that exercises administrative or managerial control

Synonyms of executive

• manager
• director
• administrator
• superintendent
• supervisor

Examples of executive in a Sentence

The television network's executives decided not to air the controversial show.

The President is the chief executive of the U.S.

matters of policy controlled by the executive

Recent Examples on the Web

The healthcare executive cast himself as a straight-talking political newcomer who has risen from foster care to billionaire. —Shannon McCaffrey, AJC.com, 10 June 2026

Oil industry executives and analysts say crude prices have remained moderate in comparison to the scale of the disruption due to the buffer provided by global stockpiles. —Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 June 2026

The researchers found that higher BMI over time led to more rapid declines in cognitive functions, memory and executive functioning than what is typically seen in aging adults, such as managing emotions, organizing and planning tasks, concentrating, and more. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

Apple executives have distinguished the deployment from Google’s consumer artificial intelligence stack and model-serving infrastructure. —Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 9 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1690, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing executive

• account executive
• chief executive
• chief executive officer
• executive agreement
• executive branch
• executive chef
• executive control
• executive council
• executive function
• executive officer
• executive order
• executive privilege
• executive secretary
• executive session
• the executive

Rhymes for executive

• consecutive

Kids Definition

executive

1 of 2 adjective

ex·​ec·​u·​tive ig-ˈzek-(y)ət-iv 

1

: of or relating to the carrying out of laws and the conduct of public and national affairs

the executive branch of government

2

: fitted for or relating to the managing or directing of things

executive skills

an executive program for a computer

3

: of or relating to an executive

the executive offices

executive

2 of 2 noun

1

: the executive branch of a government

2

: a person who manages or directs

Legal Definition

executive

1 of 2 adjective

ex·​ec·​u·​tive

1

: of or relating to the execution or carrying out of laws

serving a warrant is an executive function

especially : belonging to the branch of government that is charged with such powers as diplomatic representation, overseeing the execution of laws, and appointment of officials see also administrative compare judicial, legislative

2

a

: of or relating to execution

b

: having administrative or managerial responsibility

an executive director

3

: of, relating to, or issued by an executive

an executive pardon

executive

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the executive branch of a government compare judiciary, legislature

b

: the person or persons making up that branch see also governor, mayor, president

2

: a person who exercises administrative or managerial control