ex·ec·u·tive
ig-ˈze-k(y)ə-tiv 
-kyü-
1
a
: of or relating to the execution of the laws and the conduct of public and national affairs
b
: belonging to the branch of government that is charged with such powers as diplomatic representation, superintendence of the execution of the laws, and appointment of officials and that usually has some power over legislation (as through veto) compare judicial, legislative
2
a
: designed for or relating to execution or carrying into effect
executive board
b
: having administrative or managerial responsibility
executive director
3
: of or relating to an executive
the executive offices
1
: the executive branch of a government
also
: the person or persons who constitute the executive magistracy of a state
2
: a directing or controlling office of an organization
3
: one that exercises administrative or managerial control
Synonyms
Examples of executive in a Sentence
Adjective
She has good executive skills.
He has an executive position in the company.
In the U.S., the President is the head of the executive branch of government.
Noun
The television network's executives decided not to air the controversial show.
The President is the chief executive of the U.S.
matters of policy controlled by the executive
Recent Examples on the Web
Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Jan. 2025
State of play: The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the city a nearly $1.4-million grant that will go toward the design of the project, which could take up to 18 months, Whit Blanton, executive director of transportation planning agency Forward Pinellas, told the Times.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
Karen Yourish, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Tannenbaum was a Dolphins executive from 2015 to 2018.
—Mike Sando, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for executive 
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Adjective
Audrey Thomas, Fort Worth ISD’s executive director of specialized learning, said a number of other factors could contribute to the gap between the 5.7% of students identified as having dyslexia and the one in five people who are estimated to have the disorder across the country.
—Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Jan. 2025
State of play: The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the city a nearly $1.4-million grant that will go toward the design of the project, which could take up to 18 months, Whit Blanton, executive director of transportation planning agency Forward Pinellas, told the Times.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
After getting off to a rocky start, the company got a boost in the form of a $30 million token purchase by Justin Sun, a cryptocurrency executive who has been targeted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on fraud claims unrelated to World Liberty Financial.
—Karen Yourish, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Tannenbaum was a Dolphins executive from 2015 to 2018.
—Mike Sando, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for executive
Dictionary Entries Near executive
Cite this Entry
“Executive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
executive
1 of 2 adjective
ex·ec·u·tive
ig-ˈzek-(y)ət-iv
1
: of or relating to the carrying out of laws and the conduct of public and national affairs
the executive branch of government
2
: fitted for or relating to the managing or directing of things
executive skills
an executive program for a computer
3
: of or relating to an executive
the executive offices
executive
2 of 2 noun1
: the executive branch of a government
2
: a person who manages or directs
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