executor

noun

ex·​ec·​u·​tor ig-ˈze-k(y)ə-tər 

or in sense 1

ˈek-sə-ˌkyü- 

1

a

: one who executes something

b

obsolete : executioner

2

a

: the person appointed by a testator to execute a will

b

: literary executor

executorial

ig-ˌze-k(y)ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

Examples of executor in a Sentence

He named his daughter as his executor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Edelman was tapped as a replacement for the original director, Ava DuVernay, after Netflix and representatives of Comerica Bank, the interim executor for Prince’s estate, made a deal for the doc in 2018. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025

And in Congress, Democratic lawmakers representing the party’s progressive and centrist wings alike have cast Musk as the chief architect, executor and beneficiary of the new administration, portraying him as an unelected oligarch who is steamrolling the Constitution and stealing from taxpayers. —Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025

The original deal for the documentary was made in 2018 between Netflix and representatives of Comerica Bank, the interim executor for Prince’s estate. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025

Decide how these should be managed, preserved or deleted. Choose a digital executor. —Patrick Van Esch, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin exsecutor, from exsequi

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing executor

• co-executor
• literary executor

Kids Definition

executor

noun

ex·​ec·​u·​tor ig-ˈzek-(y)ət-ər 

in sense 1 also

ˈek-sə-ˌkyüt- 

1

: a person who executes something

2

: the person named in a will to carry it out

Legal Definition

executor

noun

ex·​ec·​u·​tor ig-ˈze-kyə-tər 

: a person named by a testator to execute or carry out the instructions in a will compare administrator