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executive function

American

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

Also executive functioning

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of executive function

First recorded in 1920–25

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.

They also completed established tests designed to measure executive function.

From Science Daily • May 13, 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

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

Plus, it can reduce our executive function, which impairs our impulse control, organization and decision-making skills.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023