exec

IPA/ɪɡˈzek/
KK[ˌɛɡzˈɛk]IPA/ɪɡˈzek/

exec — noun

  • execsingular
  • execsplural

1. a person who holds a senior management role in a company or organisation and has

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who holds a senior management role in a company or organisation and has the power to make important decisions

Example

Astrid was a senior tech exec in Silicon Valley before retiring to teach.

The company's top execs gathered in a private room to discuss the takeover bid.

plural form: execs

Common collocations
  • senior exec
  • top exec
  • marketing exec
  • tech exec
  • ad exec
  • banking exec
  • media exec
  • company execs
  • industry execs
Synonyms
  • executive

    the full form of exec; more formal and appropriate in writing

  • director

    a specific senior role, often heading a department or division

  • manager

    broader term covering anyone who oversees people or projects, not always at the highest level

  • CEO

    the most senior exec in a company; much more specific in meaning

Antonyms
  • subordinate

    a person who reports to an exec within the company hierarchy

  • junior staff

    employees at lower levels of the organisation who carry out tasks

Grammar Patterns

a/an exec — singular countable

exec + noun (e.g. marketing exec, tech exec)

plural: execs

Usage Note

Exec is an informal shortening of executive, common in business journalism and workplace conversation. The full form executive is preferred in formal writing and official job titles.

Common Mistakes

She works as a government exec.
She works as a senior executive in the government.
Exec usually refers to business roles, not government positions.
Please find attached my exec summary.
Please find attached my executive summary.
Use the full form executive in formal business documents.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Exec is an informal clipping of executive, used mainly in business journalism and casual workplace talk. Executive is the standard formal term for a senior decision-maker in any organisation. Director typically refers to a specific board-level or departmental leadership role, such as Sales Director or Finance Director, and carries a more defined scope of responsibility. Manager is a broader term covering anyone from a team leader to a vice-president — it does not always imply the highest level of authority. Administrator often describes a person who manages operations, systems, or records rather than making strategic decisions. For example: 'The tech exec approved the budget' sounds conversational, whereas 'The technology executive approved the budget' is appropriate for a formal report.

executive ↗director ↗manager ↗administrator ↗

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Exec is a shortened form of executive, which entered English in the 15th century from Latin exsequi (to follow out, carry out), based on ex- (out) + sequi (to follow). The clipping exec has been used as an informal abbreviation since the mid-20th century, first in American business slang and later spreading to general use.