executive privilege

noun

: exemption from legally enforced disclosure of communications within the executive branch of government when such disclosure would adversely affect the functions and decision-making processes of the executive branch

Examples of executive privilege in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Prosecutors, though, say Bannon had left the White House years before and Trump had never invoked executive privilege in front of the committee. —

Samuel Burke, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024 His legal team had argued that the congressional subpoena was invalid because Trump had asserted executive privilege. —

Samuel Burke, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024 Navarro argued at his trial that executive privilege prevented him from cooperating with the committee. —

Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Oct. 2024 Both had received letters from a lawyer for the former president directing them not to respond to subpoenas from the committee, citing executive privilege. —

Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, 18 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for executive privilege

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of executive privilege was in 1909

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Executive privilege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20privilege. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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