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.

---

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

But Mr. Mamdani, who took office in January, issued an executive order in March to the NYPD, putting an end to criminal summonses for e-bikers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

On June 29, Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order calling for the company to clear out the food waste within 45 days.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that called for major AI developers to submit new models to the government for review 30 days before they are publicly released.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

As the American Civil Liberties Union explained in its aftermath last week, “Birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the Constitution. No additional executive order can change the meaning of the Constitution.”

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

However, the executive order only bestowed temporary legal presence and work authorization.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi