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

See Examples For:

executive order

Schwarzenegger’s executive order reducing the license fee to its former rate resulted in billions of dollars of losses to the state’s general fund.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

The initial executive order was followed by two others with the same thrust.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has a huge lead in his re-election campaign, this month issued an executive order restricting their development.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the Interior Department to change the lake’s name in the U.S.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

By executive order President Truman desegregated the military in 1948, raising expectations among black Americans that conditions would improve even more.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson