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
Those reviews are subject to certain procedural and executive branch oversight measures but do not require intelligence agencies and agents to demonstrate probable cause of wrongdoing to a court.
—
Eric McDaniel, NPR, 12 June 2026
This power is evident in how Trump maintains control over all executive branch employees.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 9 June 2026
All four spoke to an increase in collaboration and cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of Jackson County government in the first half of LeVota’s term.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
Freedom 250 received some, but not all, of the balance, a spokeswoman said, with other funds going to executive branch agencies.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 30 May 2026
One branch of that, (the) executive branch, has no right to interfere with the judicial functions of the court or the matters presented to it.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
How the college responds could be a test of higher education’s wherewithal to withstand a hostile executive branch.
—Marie-Amelie George, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
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
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Eric McDaniel, NPR, 12 June 2026
This power is evident in how Trump maintains control over all executive branch employees.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 9 June 2026
All four spoke to an increase in collaboration and cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of Jackson County government in the first half of LeVota’s term.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
Freedom 250 received some, but not all, of the balance, a spokeswoman said, with other funds going to executive branch agencies.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 30 May 2026
One branch of that, (the) executive branch, has no right to interfere with the judicial functions of the court or the matters presented to it.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
How the college responds could be a test of higher education’s wherewithal to withstand a hostile executive branch.
—Marie-Amelie George, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Executive branch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20branch. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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