executive order

American  

noun

(often initial capital letters)

• executive orders
  plural

1. an order having the force of law issued by the president of the U.S. to the army, navy, or other part of the executive branch of the government.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• executive orders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of executive order

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

executive order

I asked the CDC for her view on the executive order, but received no reply.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that called for major AI developers to submit new models to the government for review 30 days before they are publicly released.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

As the American Civil Liberties Union explained in its aftermath last week, “Birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the Constitution. No additional executive order can change the meaning of the Constitution.”

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

“I know you are impatient,” Kennedy said Monday to Trump at the Oval Office event to unveil the executive order.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

He wrote an exception note to the Red Zone executive order, allowing them legal passage to Spirit Lake.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone