executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Governor Youngkin’s recent executive order builds on this progress, pushing for continued improvements across state agencies. —James Broughel, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

In a step to further help jobless hurricane survivors, Gov. Roy Cooper recently signed an executive order increasing the weekly benefit by $250, to a maximum of $600, until North Carolina’s state of emergency ends. —Tami Luhby, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024

Biden signed an executive order on July 9, 2021, to enforce antitrust laws arising from the anticompetitive effects of dominant internet platforms. —Anjana Susarla, Quartz, 21 Oct. 2024

Those orders were issued by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, who also used executive orders to try and stop local governments from implementing more restrictive protocols, like requiring vaccinations. —Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

executive order

noun

: an order issued by a government's executive on the basis of authority specifically granted to the executive branch (as by the U.S. Constitution or a congressional act)

the National Security Agency was created by an executive order

compare proclamation, statute

Note: An executive order from the president does not have the force of law until it is printed in the Federal Register.