executive function

American  

[ig-zek-yuh-tiv fuhngk-shuhn] / ɪgˈzɛk yə 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

So much aspirational frugal cooking quietly assumes you have endless time, energy and executive function to devote to homemade bread, all-day braises and deeply involved kitchen projects.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

My husband’s memory is still good, but he has lost some executive function and his physical condition is limited.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

By the end of kindergarten, children who were randomly selected through a lottery to attend Montessori preschools outperformed their peers in reading, executive function, short-term memory, and social understanding.

From Science Daily • Jan. 1, 2026

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

Incident to the general executive function is the power to make appointments.

From The Governments of Europe by Ogg, Frederic Austin