executive branch

noun

plural executive branches
: the branch of government that is charged with such powers as diplomatic representation, overseeing the execution of the laws, and appointment of officials and that usually has some power over legislation (as through veto) : executive compare judicial branch, legislative branch

Examples of executive branch 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.
Sitting Cabinet officials tend not to get involved in political campaigns, and a federal law, known as the Hatch Act, bars cabinet secretaries and other executive branch officials from engaging in political activities in their official capacities. Justin Papp, CNBC, 18 May 2026 No, presidents cannot run the government through executive order alone or these kind of intra-executive branch settlements either. ABC News, 17 May 2026 Employees on Capitol Hill do not have a traditional human resources department, lawmakers exercise near-total control over their offices, and congressional employees are not covered by the same whistleblower protections that shield many executive branch workers. Nik Popli, Time, 11 May 2026 In deep-red Idaho, where Republicans dominate the state’s Legislature and executive branch, disagreement over how aggressively the state should enforce immigration policy has become a litmus test for some of whether Republican politicians are sufficiently conservative. Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2026 The administration has appealed those rulings, arguing the president possesses broad constitutional authority over security clearances and executive branch access. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026 Congress needs to assert its constitutional authority before our country descends even further into chaos and restore the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches. Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 The state’s Republican Party establishment, in desperate need of a rallying cry, enlisted the crusade of one member of the state’s all-Democrat executive branch to convey that message. Editorial, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026 The back-to-back resignations and investigations, spanning both parties and both the legislative and executive branches, have reignited a debate about whether Washington’s rules and institutions for self-oversight can keep pace with the misconduct unfolding within it. Ana Ceballos follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of executive branch was in 1779

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Cite this Entry

“Executive branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20branch. Accessed 26 May. 2026.

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