executive

• exe., exec., execu.

From Middle French executif, from Latin executivus.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtɪv/, /ɛɡˈzɛkjʊtɪv/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzɛkjətɪv/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

executive (comparative more executive, superlative most executive)

1. Designed or fitted for execution, or carrying into effect.
2. Of, pertaining to, or having responsibility for the day-to-day running of an organisation, business, country, etc.

   executive act

   an executive officer

   executive government

3. Exclusive.

   an executive bathroom

executive (plural executives)

1. A chief officer or administrator, especially one who can make significant decisions on their own authority.
2. The branch of government that is responsible for enforcing laws and judicial decisions, and for the day-to-day administration of the state.
3. (computing) A process that coordinates and governs the action of other processes or threads; supervisor.
   • 1973, ACM Special Interest Group in Operating Systems, Fourth Symposium on Operating System Principles

     The second phase of the executive development proceeded through two steps as stated in Section 2. First, a failsoft executive was developed providing automatic failure detection and recovery […]