First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
execution
noun ex·e·cu·tion \ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shən\
: the act of killing someone especially as punishment for a crime
: the act of doing or performing something
Full Definition of EXECUTION
1
: the act or process of executing : performance
2
: a putting to death especially as a legal penalty
3
: the process of enforcing a legal judgment (as against a debtor); also : a judicial writ directing such enforcement
4
: the act or mode or result of performance
5
archaic : effective or destructive action <his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution — Shakespeare> —usually used with do <as soon as day came, we went out to see what execution we had done — Daniel Defoe>
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Origin of EXECUTION
Middle English execucion, from Anglo-French, from Latin exsecution-, exsecutio, from exsequi to execute, from ex- + sequi to follow — more at sue
Related to EXECUTION
- Synonyms
- accomplishment, achievement, discharge, enactment, commission, fulfillment (or fulfilment), implementation, performance, perpetration, prosecution, pursuance
- Antonyms
- nonfulfillment, nonperformance
Other Legal Terms
Rhymes with EXECUTION
absolution, allocution, attribution, comminution, consecution, constitution, contribution, convolution, destitution, dissolution, distribution, elocution, evolution, exsolution, institution, involution, persecution, prosecution, prostitution, resolution, restitution, retribution, revolution, Rosicrucian, substitution
EXECUTION Defined for Kids
execution
noun ex·e·cu·tion \ˌek-sə-ˈkyü-shən\
Definition of EXECUTION for Kids
1
: the act of killing someone as a legal penalty
2
: the act of doing or performing something <execution of a plan>
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