executive
Americannoun
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executives
plural
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a person or group of persons having administrative or supervisory authority in an organization.
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the person or persons in whom the supreme executive power of a government is vested.
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the executive branch of a government.
adjective
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of, relating to, or suited for carrying out plans, duties, etc..
executive ability.
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pertaining to or charged with the execution of laws and policies or the administration of public affairs: executive committees.
executive appointments;
executive committees.
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designed for, used by, or suitable for executives.
an executive suite.
noun
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a person or group responsible for the administration of a project, activity, or business
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( as modifier )
executive duties
an executive position
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the branch of government responsible for carrying out laws, decrees, etc; administration
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any administration Compare judiciary legislature
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adjective
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having the function or purpose of carrying plans, orders, laws, etc, into practical effect
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of, relating to, or designed for an executive
the executive suite
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informal of the most expensive or exclusive type
executive housing
executive class
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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executivenessnoun
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nonexecutiveadjective
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proexecutiveadjective
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semiexecutiveadjective
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executivelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of executive
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin execūtīvus; equivalent to execute + -ive
Explanation
An executive is a powerful person who is responsible for making things run smoothly. If you become an executive, you might be in charge of an organization, a business, or even an entire country. The executive of a company has the best office and works on ways to make their business more successful. The Medieval Latin root of executive is exsequi, which means “carry out,” and so an executive carries out plans and actions. Executive is also an adjective that describes having the power to make decisions. The president of the United States is the executive branch of the government and is responsible for executing laws that will improve the country for its citizens.
Vocabulary lists containing executive
Like A Boss: Words for the Person in Charge
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U.S. Government Lingo
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The Emancipation Proclamation (1862)
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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.
See Examples For:
The governing body's chief executive, Christian Milz, said the decision "demonstrates our commitment" to competitors who are "at the heart of our sport".
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Lamb, the Xcel executive, says the conditions that can create large wildfires are worsening and moving east, and all utilities in North America should prepare.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Gabriel Florenz, founding artistic and executive director of the Brooklyn cultural center Pioneer Works, considers Wolfe’s holdings the most important collection of Ghanaian fantasy coffins in the world.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
He smiles broadly as he signs an executive order.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
Clearly confused at the question, he said, “My dad's a corporate executive, and my moms a housewife. Why?”
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
In that line of work, you’ve got to get some stuffy studio executives to write a check for $50,000,000 in order to bring a story to life that someone might ruin with a poor director.”
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
They expected the Chinese executives to attend a state dinner hosted by Trump on Thursday alongside top U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Turnover among executives and ownership gave him repeated openings to make wholesale changes, a shift that coincided with California’s drought crisis.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Artificial intelligence is making its way through corporate America, but not all executives want to talk about it.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
Six months later she found out about the school board’s new plan for letting executives teach in the schools.
From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake
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.
