executive function

American  

[ig-zek-yuh-tiv fuhngk-shuhn] / ɪgˈzɛk jə tɪv ˈfʌŋk ʃən /

Also executive functioning

noun

1. a set of cognitive skills used to control one’s thoughts and behavior, especially the skills needed to focus on and organize tasks.

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Etymology

Origin of executive function

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

executive function

"They can improve executive function, attention and memory. And it helps people feel more relaxed and fresh."

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

Moderate exercise has been shown to improve learning among students from elementary school through young adulthood, and the effects on attention, memory and executive function are well-documented, pediatricians say.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

"We wanted to know if blinking was impacted by environmental factors and how it related to executive function," says lead author Pénélope Coupal, an Honours student at the Laboratory for Hearing and Cognition.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 23, 2025

Habits under pressure reveal readiness: a student who asks a clarifying question instead of freezing, repairs a mistake without spiraling and a parent who works with the school to build executive function.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025

Its legislative, not its executive, function is the whip which coerces the Secretaries.

From Congressional Government A Study in American Politics by Wilson, Woodrow