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:
"Their vision for robotic pizza making was really brilliant," says chief executive Rich Hull.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Earlier this week, PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp said the circuit was dismayed by the advert, describing Good Good's initial handling of the controversy as "disappointing."
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
The application included a partnership contract, signed in December by senior Binance executive Heina Chen, showing World Liberty paid Binance to provide marketing and promotional support to USD1, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
In December, Edward Stack, Dick’s executive chair, said that turning around the sneaker chain would be hard work.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
The first few times she called, Amy discussed gallery business but, little by little, began complaining about her husband, a Westinghouse executive named Van.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Creditors of Enviva filed a lawsuit seeking $2 billion in damages from five former executives over disastrous wood-pellet trades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Insurance company executives warned Gov. Gavin Newsom in a letter Wednesday that his plan to shift utility wildfire liability to property insurers would raise premiums across California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Some new shoe launches also didn’t go as well as executives had hoped.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
When pitching “Sterling Point” to Amazon executives, Park said she used a sizzle reel cobbled together from home videos filmed in Muskoka.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
The work was tracked assiduously by a parade of fascinated foundation executives; for ten days in April, it was the turn of Rockefeller executive Frank B. Hanson.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
