An executive is someone who is employed by a business at a senior level. Executives decide what the business should do, and ensure that it is done.
...an advertising executive.
She is a senior bank executive.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
The executive sections and tasks of an organization are concerned with the making of decisions and with ensuring that decisions are carried out.
A successful job search needs to be as well organised as any other executive task.
I will not take an executive role, but rather become a consultant.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Executive goods are expensive goods designed or intended for executives and other people at a similar social or economic level.
...an executive briefcase.
...a chain of shops specialising in pricey executive toys.
...executive cars.
4. singular noun [NOUN noun]
The executive committee or board of an organization is a committee within that organization which has the authorityto make decisions and ensures that these decisions are carried out.
He sits on the executive committee that manages Lloyds.
Some executive members have called for his resignation.
...the executive of the National Union of Students. [+of]
Synonyms: administration, government, directors, management More Synonyms of executive
5. singular noun [oft NOUN noun]
The executive is the part of the government of a country that is concerned with carrying out decisionsor orders, as opposed to the part that makes laws or the part that deals with criminals.
The government, the executive and the judiciary are supposed to be separate.
The matter should be resolved by the executive branch of government.
More Synonyms of executive
executive in British English
(ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtɪv)
noun
1.
a.
a person or group responsible for the administration of a project, activity, or business
b.
(as modifier)
executive duties
an executive position
2.
a.
the branch of government responsible for carrying out laws, decrees, etc; administration
b.
any administration
Compare judiciary, legislature
adjective
3.
having the function or purpose of carrying plans, orders, laws, etc, into practical effect
of, capable of, or concerned with, carrying out duties, functions, etc. or managing affairs, as in a business organization
2.
empowered and required to administer (laws, government affairs, etc.); administrative
see also legislative, judicial
3.
of administrative or managerial personnel or functions
noun
4.
the person, group of people, or branch of government empowered and required to administerthe laws and affairs of a nation
5.
any person whose function is to administer or manage affairs, as of a corporation, school, etc.
Word origin
ME < ML executivus < L executus: see executor
Examples of 'executive' in a sentence
executive
It should be no different for senior executives or chief executives.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is also the result of demand from academy chains with executive heads supervising the work of head teachers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It remains to be seen how the new chief executive, will fare.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He has said that he would give key jobs to military generals, business executives and possibly family members.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A new chief executive would have carte blanche to reset the payment in accordance with those expected lower earnings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Getting more women into executive positions is the next big challenge for business, and there is absolutely no room for complacency.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A business executive who worked as a youth football coach has been suspended from working in the game by the governing body.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He worked his way up to become chief executive of its UK business.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
One party source said that the cancellation at short notice of a national executive committee meeting on Monday gave a signal that there were problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He became group chief executive when the company went public.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Executives say that the business has not suffered too badly relative to the competition in recent weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Do the responsible executives pay the fines?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The implementation of policy and objectives should then be left to the executive parts of the organization.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
She began looking for a chief executive position at a smaller company.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The options are to become more executive flats or do food.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The remuneration committee then decides where its executive should fit.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His job as a bank executive is demanding and fairly stressful.
Steel, Elizabeth Coping With Sudden Hair Loss (1988)
Buyers tend to be wealthy chief executives and business people.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The grand buildings and knighted executives are merely part of the image.
The Sun (2013)
We also recommended term limits on members of the executive committee and the publication of the individual compensation of key persons.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Only three executives lost their jobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Neither of the other two branches of the federal government can match the executive branch in its command of the national agenda.
Chancellor, John Peril and Promise: A Commentary on America (1990)
The chain 's executives could offer no explanation except that fewer people were buying clothes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
That gap has prompted some in Europe to argue for quotas for female executives on boards.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are far fewer female senior executives in Germany than there are here.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
For that we can thank the greed and irresponsibility of bankers, chief executives and remuneration committees.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Perhaps service can be added to the responsibilities of an existing executive who's responsible for quality.
Davidow, William H. & Uttal, Bro Total Customer Service (The Ultimate Weapon) (1990)
The new salary is 25 per cent less than his current job as executive chair.
The Sun (2010)
Still, he was shocked by the gap between board and executive views of effectiveness.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He is also planning to hire a new chief executive to handle the day-to-day running of the club.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The investigations sparked dozens of arrests and two dozen guilty pleas from hedge fund managers, executives and industry consultants.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Figure 17.3 shows a high increase in the use of recruitment consultancies and smaller increasesin the use of employment agencies and executive search consultants.
Torrington, Derek Personnel Management: A New Approach (1991)
The chain 's chief executive said that people still wanted leading brands, despite difficult times.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Union executives, who also want to see school league tables abolished, meet next week to decide whether to press ahead.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
executive
British English: executive /ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtɪv/ NOUN
An executive is someone employed by a company at a senior level.
...an advertising executive.
American English: executive
Arabic: مُدِير مدير
Brazilian Portuguese: executivo
Chinese: 管理人员
Croatian: rukovoditelj
Czech: vedoucí pracovník
Danish: leder
Dutch: leidinggevend persoon
European Spanish: ejecutivo
Finnish: johtaja yhtiön
French: cadre emploi
German: leitender Angestellter
Greek: στέλεχος εταιρεία
Italian: dirigente
Japanese: エグゼクティブ
Korean: 실행위원
Norwegian: direktør
Polish: kierownik
European Portuguese: executivo
Romanian: director
Russian: член правления
Latin American Spanish: ejecutivo
Swedish: verkställande
Thai: ผู้บริหาร
Turkish: yönetici
Ukrainian: виконавчий
Vietnamese: chuyên viên
British English: executive ADJECTIVE
The executive sections and tasks of an organization are concerned with the making of decisions and with ensuring that decisions are carried out.
A successful job search needs to be as well organised as any other executive task.
American English: executive
Brazilian Portuguese: executivo
Chinese: 执行的
European Spanish: ejecutivo
French: de cadre
German: leitend
Italian: esecutivo
Japanese: 管理職の
Korean: 행정적인
European Portuguese: executivo
Latin American Spanish: ejecutivo
All related terms of 'executive'
executive job
a job in which a person is responsible for the administration of a project , activity, or business
executive pay
the money that an executive of an organization gets as wages or salary
executive toy
a novelty item , such as a Newton's cradle , on the desk of a corporate executive
non-executive
Someone who has a non-executive position in a company or organization gives advice but is not responsible for making decisions or ensuring that decisions are carried out.
chief executive
the person with overall responsibility for the efficient running of a company, organization, etc
executive board
a board of directors
executive order
an order from the US president , or an authorized subordinate , that has the force of law
executive suite
→ the executive suite
sales executive
a professional responsible for increasing and developing a company's sales
account executive
an executive in an advertising agency or public relations firm who manages a client's account
executive burnout
a total loss of energy and interest and an inability to function effectively, experienced by some executives as a result of excessive demands upon their resources or chronic overwork
executive chairman
the most senior internal position within a company , combining the duties of chairman and chief executive
executive chairmen
the most senior internal position within a company, combining the duties of chairman and chief executive
Executive Council
(in Australia and New Zealand) a body consisting of ministers of the Crown presided over by the Governor or Governor-General that formally approves Cabinet decisions , etc
executive decision
a decision made by a person or group that has executive power
executive director
a member of the board of directors of a company who is also an employee (usually full-time ) of that company and who often has a specified area of responsibility , such as finance or production
executive lounge
a room in an airport in which people who are travelling first class can wait for their flight in comfort
Executive Mansion
the White House (in Washington , D .C.), official home of the President of the U.S.
executive member
a member of an executive committee
executive officer
the second-in-command of any of certain military units
executive producer
a producer of a film or television programme who is involved with business or technical issues rather than the technical aspects of film or television production
executive relief
sexual intercourse or masturbation
executive session
a session of the Senate for the discussion of executive business, such as the ratification of treaties : formerly held in secret
junior executive
a trainee position in a business or organization
senior executive
someone in a senior position in a business, who makes decisions and puts them into action
executive agreement
an agreement made between the US President and the head of a foreign state, having the effect of a treaty
executive committee
the executive committee or board of an organization is a committee within that organization which has the authority to make decisions and ensures that these decisions are carried out
executive president
a president in certain systems of government who possesses wide powers
executive privilege
the right of the executive branch of the government to withhold information from the public when its disclosure would adversely affect the functioning of the government
executive secretary
a secretary in an organization who performs administrative duties for people in senior positions
the Executive Mansion
the White House
the executive suite
the offices of the top managers
chief executive officer
The chief executive officer of a company is the person who has overall responsibility for the management of that company. The abbreviation → CEO is often used.
National Executive Committee
the body responsible for the administration of the UK Labour Party
Special Operations Executive
a secret British military organization during World War II, set up in 1940 to undertake clandestine operations in cooperation with resistance movements chiefly in occupied Europe
office park
a complex of office buildings located on land planted with lawns , trees, bushes , etc.
Health and Safety Executive
→ the Health and Safety Executive
XO
executive officer
Executive Office of the President
→ the Executive Office of the President
the Health and Safety Executive
the department of the United Kingdom government responsible for the regulation of health , safety , and welfare in the workplace
Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive
a UK organization which oversees and ensures the safe removal of radioactive waste
the Executive Office of the President
the staff of the US President
CEO
CEO is an abbreviation for → chief executive officer .