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

"My gratitude to companies across industries who continue to work closely with the White House to implement the President's" executive order on AI and cybersecurity, Wiles said.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

Prosecution should be reserved for cases in which companies or people “willingly choose not to comply, thereby causing or risking substantial public harm,” the White House wrote in a May 2025 executive order.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026

The White House has communicated little about how it will enforce its executive order -- in which companies are understood to be participating voluntarily -- and what models would fall under its review rules.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts on Thursday declared steps outlined in the 2026 executive order to be “legally void.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

That March, the president issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in the federal government on the basis of race, religion, or national origin.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson