executive
adjective
ex·ec·u·tive
| \ ig-ˈze-k(y)ə-tiv
, -kyü-\
, -kyü-\
Definition of executive
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: 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
2a
: 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
executive
nounDefinition of executive (Entry 2 of 2)
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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for executive
Synonyms: Adjective
administrative, directorial, managerial, supervisory
Synonyms: Noun
administrant, administrator, archon, director, exec, manager, superintendent, supervisor
Antonyms: Adjective
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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: Adjective
The judicial audit does not involve the executive branch. — Washington Post, "AP Interview: Haitian president pledges to outlast troubles," 30 Aug. 2019 Jane Hudson, the executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, told me earlier this week that Democratic Party officials had yet to address accessibility concerns voiced by her organization. — Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, "A Virtual Threat to Iowa’s First-in-the-Nation Caucuses," 30 Aug. 2019 Earlier that year, Wayne LaPierre, the organization’s leader, had promoted Powell to executive director of general operations. — Mike Spies, ProPublica, "The NRA Used Funds to Settle a Sexual Harassment Claim Against a Top Official — And Then He Was Accused Again," 28 Aug. 2019 The European Union has been involved in G7 work since 1977, and is represented at the summit by the President of the European Commission (the E.U.’s executive branch) Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. — Julia Webster, Time, "What Does the G7 Stand For?," 23 Aug. 2019 In the United States, new PET bottles contain only 7 percent recycled content, said Susan Collins, executive director of the Container Recycling Institute. — Laura Parker, National Geographic, "How the plastic bottle went from miracle container to hated garbage," 23 Aug. 2019 Katie Gibbs, executive director of the science campaign group Evidence for Democracy in Ottawa, says more clarity is needed on how the rules will be applied. — Brian Owens, Science | AAAS, "Climate facts subject to rules on partisan advertising in Canada," 20 Aug. 2019 The dictum mostly expands or alters the executive branch’s reach on dealing with gun violence and is the first concrete policy change to come from any of the Flyover states following the mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso. — cleveland.com, "Worrying economic signs in the heartland point to a recession: The Flyover," 19 Aug. 2019 But if the Air Force chooses to ignore the GAO’s decision, the GAO must notify Congress, which can then take up the matter with the executive branch. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "How Blue Origin is trying to rework the rules of the Air Force’s coveted rocket competition," 13 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The last requirement was left up to Warner Brothers executive Joe Smith to fulfill. — Tom Maxwell, Longreads, "Shelved: Van Morrison’s Contractual Obligation Album," 29 Aug. 2019 Texas' manufacturing sector picked up again in August, according to executives who responded to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' monthly survey. — Erin Douglas, Houston Chronicle, "Texas manufacturing picks up in August: Dallas Fed survey," 28 Aug. 2019 Todd Johnston, the agency’s executive director, said Sims’ termination -- and the termination of another employee for related reasons -- was justified based on the investigation. — oregonlive.com, "Oregon coast housing official fired after investigation into perks for son," 24 Aug. 2019 Surf Style close Holt for its campaign after representatives from the nonprofit organization Help Us Gather (HUG), which has worked to break down barriers for those living with disabilities, introduced the aspiring model to executives last month. — Fox News, "Florida beachwear company features model with Down syndrome," 23 Aug. 2019 Buyouts followed the acquisition, and this week GateHouse eliminated the job of the newspaper’s publisher, assigning that responsibility to an executive who already oversees four other North Carolina papers. — Washington Post, "As Gannett, GateHouse merge, newspaper cost-cutting persists," 23 Aug. 2019 Kaiser is prioritizing salaries to top executives, boosting their CEO’s salary by 60%, totaling $16 million or almost $8,000 per hour. — Shelly Fowlkes, The Denver Post, "Guest Commentary: Over 3,000 Colorado Kaiser frontline workers ready to strike for quality patient care," 23 Aug. 2019 The nonprofit is the evolution of an organization founded in 2013 that lobbied for passage of the charter law, according to its executive director, Tyler Barnett. — al, "Alabama spending $800,000 to grow charter schools," 22 Aug. 2019 Dawn Perfect, Ramona Parks and Recreation Association executive director, and Don Wendt, past president of the Ramona Trails Association, made presentations during the Trails and Greenways Conference. — Julie Gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Greenway advocates plan outreach activities," 22 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'executive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for executive
executive
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of executive
: a person who manages or directs other people in a company or organization
: the executive branch of a government
See the full definition for executive in the English Language Learners Dictionary
executive
adjective
ex·ec·u·tive
| \ ig-ˈze-kyə-tiv
\
\
Kids Definition of executive
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: fitted for or relating to the managing or directing of things
Claudia showed the executive ability of a corporation president.— E. L. Konigsburg, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
2
: relating to the carrying out of the law and the conduct of public affairs
the executive branch of government
executive
nounKids Definition of executive (Entry 2 of 2)