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Synonyms

executive officer

American  

noun

  1. the officer second in command of a military or naval organization.

  2. an officer charged with executive duties, as in a corporation.


executive officer British  

noun

  1.  XO.  the second-in-command of any of certain military units

  2. a specialist seaman officer, responsible under the captain for the routine efficient running of the ship in the US, British (formerly), and certain other navies

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of executive officer

First recorded in 1780–90

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.

The deal is one of the first big moves by Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett as chief executive officer in January.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

Ph.D., chief executive officer and chairman of Revolution Medicines, said in a press release on Sunday.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

STV's chief executive officer Rufus Radcliffe said the company had to respond to the "significant shift" in audience behaviour.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

“This could create serious consequences, including a potential zeroing out of the state’s support for critical emission reduction programs,” said Phillip Fine, executive officer at the Bay Area Air District.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026

Then IBM acquired a new chief executive officer who changed things drastically: IBM now has a more Microsoft-like organization, and I’m told that IBM’s innovativeness has improved as a result.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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