Origin: Latin suffix -able
Executable has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
A file that can be run directly by a computer's hardware or a p-code interpreter with no further processing.
"The compiled program was saved as an executable so it could launch immediately without needing to recompile the source code first."
In plain English: An executable is a computer program that you can run to make your device do something specific.
"The programmer handed over two executable files to run on his new computer."
capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are
"The proposed plan was deemed executable given our current budget and available staff."
Capable of being executed.
"The new software update is executable on all current devices without requiring any additional drivers."
In plain English: Something that is executable means it can be run by a computer to actually do what you want it to do.
"The executable file is ready to be run on your computer."
Usage: Use this adjective to describe any task, plan, or code that is ready for immediate action without needing approval first. It often appears in computing contexts regarding files but applies generally to anything capable of being carried out successfully.
The word executable comes from combining the verb execute with the suffix -able to mean something that can be carried out. It entered English as a straightforward formation describing tasks or code capable of being performed.