executive order

noun

(often initial capital letters)

an order having the force of law issued by the president of the U.S. to the army, navy, or other part of the executive branch of the government.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of executive order¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

US President Donald Trump has hit out at South Africa's new expropriation law, signing an executive order in February stating it was a means to which the government could "seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation".

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On the first day of his presidency, Trump signed an executive order establishing a 90-day, program-by-program review of foreign assistance programs to determine which would continue, bringing funding for foreign assistance to a screeching halt.

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On Wednesday, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Education to ramp up enforcement of the rule.

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“Protecting American educational, cultural, and national security interests requires transparency regarding foreign funds flowing to American higher education and research institutions,” Wednesday’s executive order reads.

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Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court that the president exceeded his authority when he signed an executive order threatening to cut funding for “sanctuary cities.”

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