executor

[ ig-zek-yuh-ter ek-si-kyoo-ter ]

noun

1. a person who executes, carries out, or performs some duty, job, assignment, artistic work, etc.
2. Law. a person named in a decedent's will to carry out the provisions of that will.

executor

/ ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtə /

noun

1. law a person appointed by a testator to carry out the wishes expressed in his will
2. a person who executes

Derived Forms

• exˈecutorˌship, noun
• exˌecuˈtorial, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·ec·u·to·ri·al [ig-zek-y, uh, -, tawr, -ee-, uh, l, -, tohr, -], adjective
• ex·ecu·tor·ship noun
• preex·ecu·tor noun
• subex·ecu·tor noun
• unex·ecu·tori·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of executor¹

1250–1300; Middle English executour < Latin execūtor, equivalent to execū ( tus ) ( execute ) + -tor, -tor; replacing Middle English esecutor < Anglo-French essecutour < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of executor¹

C13: from Anglo-French executour, from Latin execūtor, from ex- ¹+ sequi follow

Example Sentences

You will also need to name an executor of your estate.

From Salon

An executor could also be personally liable for making a decision which no reasonable executor would.

From BBC

You wrote that one of the disadvantages to these accounts is that an estate’s executor might have to try to get money back from beneficiaries or pay expenses out of their own pocket if there wasn’t enough money left in the estate to pay the bills.

From Los Angeles Times

If you were counting on an account to pay final expenses but forgot you named a beneficiary, your executor probably couldn’t access those funds.

From Los Angeles Times

“Once you understand that change is a norm, then you can become more comfortable in being the executor—the executor of change for yourself in your life,” Wood said, “instead of waiting for somebody to push you out the plane.”

From Salon