executive
gb/ɪɡzˈɛkjətɪv/ us/ɪɡzˈɛkjətɪv/
B1
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
High-level company or government manager
A person with an important job who makes decisions in a business or government.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an executive at [company/organization]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'executive' with 'executioner', which has a completely different meaning.
Synonyms
manager (A general term for someone in charge, but not always at the highest level.)
|
administrator (Focuses more on organizing and running operations, not necessarily high-level strategy.)
Antonyms
employee (Refers to someone who works for an organization but does not have decision-making authority.)
Collocations
chief executive
|corporate executive
|senior executive
|top executive
|executive position
Themes
business
|management
|government
|work
Examples
- The company's executives met to discuss the merger.
- She was promoted to senior executive after five years.
- As an executive, he is responsible for setting the department's goals.
- Top executives often earn large bonuses.
- The executive signed the final approval for the budget.
Learner examples
- My uncle is an executive at a bank.
- The executive makes big decisions for the company.
- She is the top executive in her office.
- Executives meet to plan the future.
- An executive can hire new workers.
adjective
B2
property
2
Related to management duties or authority
About the work of managing and making important decisions in business or government.
Usage pattern:
executive [role/decision/committee]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'executive' as an adjective with 'exclusive' because they sound similar.
Synonyms
managerial (Formal term focusing on the duties of managers.)
Antonyms
subordinate (Describes someone or something lower in rank or authority.)
Collocations
executive decision
|executive committee
|executive powers
|executive summary
Themes
business
|government
|politics
|work
Examples
- The CEO made an executive decision to expand overseas.
- She attended the executive meeting on Monday.
- The report includes an executive summary at the beginning.
- They discussed changes in the company's executive structure.
Learner examples
- He made an executive decision to stop the project.
- The executive committee meets every week.
- We read the executive summary of the report.
- She works on the executive floor of the building.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
3
Government branch that enforces laws
The part of the government that makes sure laws are followed and runs daily work.
Usage pattern:
the executive [branch/power]
Synonyms
administration (Often used to refer to the group of people running the government at a certain time.)
Antonyms
legislature (The branch of government that makes laws, not enforces them.)
Collocations
executive branch
|executive power
|head of the executive
Themes
government
|law
|politics
Examples
- The president is part of the executive branch.
- The constitution separates powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
- Executive power is vested in the cabinet.
Learner examples
- The president leads the executive branch.
- The executive makes sure laws are followed.
- In my country, the executive is separate from the courts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
executive
IPA
GB/ɪɡzˈɛkjətɪv/
US/ɪɡzˈɛkjətɪv/
Syllables & stress
ex - ec - ut - ive (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ec)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: executive
Noun
- Base: executive
- Plural: executives
Word family
Forms
executives
noun
Related words
executor
noun
Negative and opposite forms
non-executive
adjective
Advanced or less common
executable
adjective
executioner
noun B2
Expressions
chief executive officer (CEO)
1/t͡ʃˈif ɪɡzˈɛkjətɪv ˈɔfɪsɚ sˈi ˈi ˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
Top manager of a company
The most important manager in a company who makes big decisions.
Examples
- She was appointed chief executive officer last year.
- The chief executive officer announced a new strategy today.
executive branch
1/ɪɡzˈɛkjətɪv bɹˈænt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
formal
Part of government that enforces laws
The part of government that makes sure laws are followed and runs daily work.
Examples
- The executive branch carries out federal laws.
- In many countries, the prime minister leads the executive branch.
executive decision
1/ɪɡzˈɛkjətɪv dɪsˈɪʒən/
fixed phrase
Decision made by someone in charge
A choice made quickly by a leader without asking others first.
Examples
- He made an executive decision to cancel the meeting.
- Sometimes you have to make an executive decision to keep things moving.