execution

[ek-si-kyoo-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of executing.

2. the state or fact of being executed.

3. the infliction of capital punishment or, formerly, of any legal punishment.

4. the process of performing a judgment or sentence of a court.

   The judge stayed execution of the sentence pending appeal.

5. a mode or style of performance; technical skill, as in music.

   The pianist's execution of the sonata was consummate.

6. effective, usually destructive action, or the result attained by it (usually preceded bydo ).

   The grenades did rapid execution.

7. Law.,  a judicial writ directing the enforcement of a judgment.

8. Computers.,  the act of running, or the results of having run, a program or routine, or the performance of an instruction.

execution

/ ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of executing

2. the carrying out or undergoing of a sentence of death

3. the style or manner in which something is accomplished or performed; technique

   as a pianist his execution is poor

4. 1. the enforcement of the judgment of a court of law

   2. the writ ordering such enforcement

Other Word Forms

• executional adjective
• nonexecution noun
• preexecution noun
• reexecution noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of execution¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English execucioun, from Latin ex(s)ecūtiōn-, stem of ex(s)ecūtiō “accomplishment, performance”; equivalent to execute + -ion

Example Sentences

The United Nations rights chief said Friday that he was "appalled" by the RSF's recent killing of civilians in the city, including what appeared to be ethnically motivated summary executions.

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The Taliban also introduced public executions for convicted murderers and punished thieves by amputating a hand.

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There are two arguments: After juries found the 37 inmates deserving of death, shouldn’t they suffer the harshest treatment short of execution?

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“Still, others have pushed back on the execution risk,” the analysts write, noting that building out Southeast and Texas branches while simultaneously retaining talent and cutting 35% of expenses is a full plate.

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In all, he saved six men from execution during his career, eliciting death threats in the process.

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