executives
executives — adjective
1. used to describe a job, role, or activity that involves making high-level decisi
used to describe a job, role, or activity that involves making high-level decisions and managing a company or organization — for example, an executive position, an executive meeting, or executive training for senior staff.
Mei-Lin accepted an executive job at a large computer company in Taipei.
executive + job (collocation — always before a noun)
The board held an executive meeting to discuss next year's budget.
executive meeting (collocation)
Ahmed was hired for his executive skills in leading teams across Asia.
Executive offices on the top floor offer a wide view of the city.
Fatima completed an executive training course at a well-known business school.
- administrative
broader — includes routine office management, not just high-level decision-making
- managerial
refers to any level of management, not specifically senior roles
- junior
describes lower-level or entry positions
- non-managerial
describes roles without management responsibility
文法句型
executive + noun
be executive — rare, normally attributive
用法筆記
Always appears before a noun — you say an executive role, not the role is executive. Common before words that name positions (executive director), facilities (executive suite), or activities (executive search).
常見錯誤
2. describes the government branch that puts laws into action — headed by the presi
describes the government branch that puts laws into action — headed by the president or prime minister, along with the departments that handle the country's daily affairs.
The president is the head of the executive branch of the US government.
executive branch (collocation)
Executive orders allow the president to direct how federal agencies carry out laws.
executive order (collocation — a directive from the executive branch)
The governor's executive council met to discuss how to implement the new law.
The separation of powers divides authority among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
Governor Olga used her executive authority to declare a state of emergency.
- governmental
broader — covers all branches and levels of government, not just the executive
- administrative
focuses on the daily running of government rather than high-level policy
- legislative
the branch that makes laws
- judicial
the branch that interprets laws
文法句型
executive branch
executive power
executive order
用法筆記
Frequently capitalised when it forms part of a specific government body's name (the Executive Branch). Often contrasted with legislative (law-making) and judicial (law-interpreting) in discussions of separated powers.
常見錯誤
3. relating to the process of carrying out a plan, order, or task that someone has
relating to the process of carrying out a plan, order, or task that someone has decided on — used in formal or technical contexts such as project management or military command.
The project manager handled the executive tasks needed to launch the new smartphone.
executive tasks (collocation — tasks that put a plan into action)
Amara supervised the executive duties of running the company warehouse in Kenya.
executive duties (collocation)
The committee assigned executive responsibility for the disaster plan to Wei.
The general gave executive orders for the rescue mission to begin at dawn.
- operational
focuses on the functioning of systems or processes rather than putting a single plan into effect
- implementational
rare outside academic writing; executive is the usual formal term
- strategic
relating to planning and deciding what to do, rather than carrying it out
- legislative
relating to making rules or decisions, not executing them
文法句型
executive + noun (task, duty, function, order)
用法筆記
Common in military, project management, and operational contexts where a clear distinction exists between planning (deciding what to do) and execution (doing it). Overlaps partly with sense 2 but the focus here is on carrying out any plan, not on government specifically.
常見錯誤
executives — noun
1. a person in a senior role within a company or organization who makes important d
a person in a senior role within a company or organization who makes important decisions about what the business should do — for example, a marketing executive, a chief executive, or a senior executive at a bank.
The executives at the bank decided to invest in new solar technology.
the executives at [company] decided to (pattern — subject + verb clause)
Three top executives from the car company attended the trade fair in Shanghai.
top executive (common adjective modifier)
Yuki worked as a marketing executive for a fashion brand in Tokyo.
The company executives met to plan their expansion into Latin America.
After eight years at the firm, Diego became one of the youngest executives.
- director
a specific type of executive who sits on the board; not all executives are directors
- manager
broader term — includes middle and lower-level supervisors, not just senior decision-makers
- chief officer
a top-level executive such as CEO, CFO, or COO
- subordinate
a person lower in the hierarchy who reports to an executive
- junior staff
employees without management or decision-making authority
文法句型
[adjective] executive(s)
executive + of [company]
用法筆記
Can refer either to a specific role (she is an executive at Apple) or to a level in the hierarchy (executives eat in the top-floor dining room). Distinguish from manager — a manager may oversee a team or process, while an executive typically has broader strategic authority over the whole or a major part of the organisation.
常見錯誤
2. the branch of a national or state government responsible for enforcing laws — ma
the branch of a national or state government responsible for enforcing laws — made up of the president or prime minister, the cabinet, and public-service departments.
In the United States, the executive is headed by the president.
the executive is headed by (passive structure — who leads the branch)
The executive has the power to veto laws passed by the legislature.
the executive + has the power to (pattern — authority of the branch)
The state executive announced new policies for public schools in rural areas.
Citizens elect the executive every five years in many democratic countries.
The executive proposed a new plan to improve the national healthcare system.
- administration
US-specific term for the president and their team; narrower than the full executive branch
- government
broader term covering all branches, not just the executive
- legislature
the law-making branch of government
- judiciary
the law-interpreting branch of government
文法句型
the executive
the executive + verb (singular agreement)
用法筆記
Always takes singular verb agreement (the executive is, not the executive are). Uncountable in this meaning — describes the branch as a whole, not individuals within it. Often capitalised (the Executive) in formal political writing.
常見錯誤
3. the committee or board that manages an organisation — such as a business, charit
the committee or board that manages an organisation — such as a business, charity, club, or union — and decides how things should be done.
The executive of the charity meets every month to review the budget.
the executive of [organization] (preposition pattern)
Aisha was elected to the student executive of her university last semester.
student executive (collocation — group in a student union)
The company's executive decided to open a new factory near Lagos.
The club executive voted to change the membership rules for young people.
The union executive negotiated a new contract for workers at the plant.
- board
specifically the governing body of an organisation; more formal than executive
- management
broader — includes all levels of managers, not just the top decision-making group
- committee
a group appointed for a specific purpose; an executive usually has wider ongoing authority
- membership
the general body of members, distinct from the leadership group
- staff
ordinary employees who are not part of the decision-making group
文法句型
the executive of [organization]
[organization] executive
用法筆記
Unlike noun sense 1 (BUSINESS LEADER), which describes individual people, this sense treats the group as a collective body. British English allows either singular or plural verb agreement (the executive has/have decided), while American English strongly prefers singular. Followed by of when naming the organisation (the executive of the club).