executor

American  

[ig-zek-yuh-ter, ek-si-kyoo-ter] / ɪgˈzɛk yə tər, ˈɛk sɪˌkyu tər /

noun

1. a person who executes, carries out, or performs some duty, job, assignment, artistic work, etc.

2. Law. a person named in a decedent's will to carry out the provisions of that will.

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executor British  

/ ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtə /

noun

1. law a person appointed by a testator to carry out the wishes expressed in his will

2. a person who executes

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Other Word Forms

• executorial adjective
• executorship noun
• preexecutor noun
• subexecutor noun
• unexecutorial adjective

Etymology

Origin of executor

1250–1300; Middle English executour < Latin execūtor, equivalent to execū ( tus ) ( execute ) + -tor, -tor; replacing Middle English esecutor < Anglo-French essecutour < Latin, as above

Compare meaning

How does executor compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• executor vs. executrix

Example Sentences

“A lot of people over age 50 have children who are getting into adulthood and could potentially take on more responsibility as the executor of a will or a power of attorney,” Green said.

From MarketWatch

After she passed away, the executor of her estate told me she died a wealthy woman.

From The Wall Street Journal

The problem was that when the beach cottage sold, I became the executor of the proceeds for my brother.

From The Wall Street Journal

Later, he became the executor of my cousin’s estate and continued living in the home with the three boys — my cousin’s elder son, his own son and the son they had together.

From MarketWatch

But the administrator/executor of an estate does have a duty to keep potential heirs/beneficiaries informed of the estate process.

From MarketWatch