executioner
Americannoun
-
an official who inflicts capital punishment in pursuance of a legal warrant.
-
a person who executes an act, will, judgment, etc.
noun
-
an official charged with carrying out the death sentence passed upon a condemned person
-
an assassin, esp one appointed by a political or criminal organization
Etymology
Origin of executioner
Explanation
An executioner is a government official who kills people sentenced to death. Executioners kill legally. There are many people who kill, such as murderers, soldiers, and hunters. Another is the executioner, whose job is to kill. If a king or legal system has decided that someone will be put to death, it's the executioner's job to kill them. Over time, executioners have used hanging, beheading, lethal injections, the electric chair, and many other ways of executing (killing). Without a doubt, being an executioner is one of the grimmest jobs in the world.
Vocabulary lists containing executioner
Unit 1: Telling Details
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Imagine the Angels of Bread," Vocabulary from the poem
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Amnesty International continues to consider China as the world's leading executioner," it said.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
My executioner, my best friend, my greatest champion — I’m talking about my mother, of course.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
Sir Thomas More on the scaffold of Tower Hill comforted his executioner and was reported by a witness to have repositioned his beard on the block, joking it had committed no treason.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026
He says that the articles were untrue and that The Guardian "played the role of judge, jury and executioner" of his career and reputation.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2025
As for Basta’s executioner, Meggie learned no more than what Fenoglio had already told her and what she remembered of the passage the Magpie had made her read.
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
