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

Industry executives and administration officials have said some of the uncertainty will be resolved after the executive order is implemented.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

An executive order signed in mid-June has accelerated the migration to quantum-safe systems by 2031.Alongside a renewed emphasis on quantum sensing and networking, these measures are designed to secure critical networks against foreign interference.

From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026

Under pressure over the novelty of their capabilities, Trump earlier this month signed an executive order setting up a voluntary federal review of national security risks in advanced AI models before their release.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

On June 2, the White House issued an executive order establishing a voluntary process for AI models to be assessed for cybersecurity threats.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon signed an executive order that outlawed the development of offensive biological weapons in the United States.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston