Origin: Latin suffix -ive
Executive has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
a person responsible for the administration of a business
"The new executive spent her first week reviewing the company's budget and hiring plans."
persons who administer the law
"The district attorney, as a top executive of our legal system, decided to drop the charges against the defendant."
someone who manages a government agency or department
"The new executive took charge of the environmental protection agency last week to oversee its cleanup efforts."
A chief officer or administrator, especially one who can make significant decisions on their own authority.
"After hours of debate, only the executive had the power to sign off on the controversial merger without consulting the board."
In plain English: An executive is a person who runs a company or organization and makes important decisions for it.
"The new executive will start working at the company next Monday."
Usage: Use "executive" to refer to a high-ranking official, such as a CEO or head of government, who holds the power to make binding decisions independently. Do not use it for lower-level managers or employees who merely carry out orders under supervision.
Designed or fitted for execution, or carrying into effect.
"The new executive summary was crafted to ensure the company's strategic goals were actually carried out rather than just discussed."
In plain English: Executive means having the power to make important decisions and take charge of things.
"She works for an executive branch of the government that makes all the important decisions."
Usage: Use the adjective executive to describe a person who holds a high-ranking management position, such as an executive director or chief executive officer. Avoid using it to mean "designed for execution" in everyday conversation, as that technical sense rarely applies to general topics.
The word executive comes from the Latin verb exsequi, which literally means "to follow out." It entered English via Middle French to describe someone who carries out or implements plans.