executive session

noun

: a usually closed session (as of a legislative body) that functions as an executive council (as of the U.S. Senate when considering appointments or the ratification of treaties)

Examples of executive session in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Massport’s March 5 response came the same day that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which Cruz chairs, voted in an executive session to vote on a subpoena authorization. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2025

After an executive session lasting nearly an hour and a half, all board members but Smith returned to the dais. —Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2025

An executive session is when a government body, which is mandated by state law to conduct meetings in public if a quorum is present, can discuss matters such as employment, litigation and collective bargaining out of public view. —Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025

The council then went into executive session for 10 minutes for legal advice on the topic. —Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for executive session

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Legal Definition

executive session

noun

: a closed session (as of the U.S. Senate) in which executive business (as consideration of appointments or ratification of treaties) is taken care of compare legislative session