execution

[ ek-si-kyoo-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of executing.
2. the state or fact of being executed.
3. the infliction of capital punishment or, formerly, of any legal punishment.
4. the process of performing a judgment or sentence of a court:

   The judge stayed execution of the sentence pending appeal.

5. a mode or style of performance; technical skill, as in music:

   The pianist's execution of the sonata was consummate.

6. effective, usually destructive action, or the result attained by it (usually preceded by do ):

   The grenades did rapid execution.

7. Law. a judicial writ directing the enforcement of a judgment.
8. Computers. the act of running, or the results of having run, a program or routine, or the performance of an instruction.

execution

/ ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of executing
2. the carrying out or undergoing of a sentence of death
3. the style or manner in which something is accomplished or performed; technique

   as a pianist his execution is poor

4. 1. the enforcement of the judgment of a court of law
   2. the writ ordering such enforcement

Other Words From

• exe·cution·al adjective
• nonex·e·cution noun
• preex·e·cution noun
• reex·e·cution noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of execution¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English execucioun, from Latin ex(s)ecūtiōn-, stem of ex(s)ecūtiō “accomplishment, performance”; equivalent to execute + -ion