What does executor mean?
An executor is a person entrusted with carrying out the wishes set out in another person's last will and testament. When someone dies, the executor gathers the deceased's assets, pays outstanding debts and taxes, and distributes the remaining property to the beneficiaries named in the will. The role carries significant legal responsibility, so executors are usually chosen for their trustworthiness and organizational skill, and they may be compensated for their work. Beyond this legal sense, 'executor' can describe anyone who executes or puts something into effect — an order, a strategy, or a plan — though this broader usage is less common. In computing, the word also appears in technical contexts to mean a component that runs programs or processes instructions. Derived ultimately from Latin roots meaning 'to follow out' or 'to carry through', the word emphasizes follow-through: an executor is, at heart, someone who gets things done according to another's instructions.
nounA person appointed to carry out the provisions of a will; more broadly, a person or thing that executes or carries out something, such as an order, plan, or task.
- A person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of their will.
- A person or thing that executes or performs something, such as an instruction, task, or program.
"As the executor of her aunt's estate, she spent months settling debts and distributing bequests."
"Her brother was named executor of the estate."
"The query executor processes each SQL statement efficiently."
Regular plural formation; used both in legal contexts (multiple co-executors of an estate) and general contexts.
"The two executors worked together to settle the estate."
The word 'executor' comes from Latin roots meaning 'one who follows through' — which is exactly what you want in charge of your will.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of executor
The word 'executor' derives from the Latin 'exsequi' (or 'exsecuti'), meaning 'to follow out' or 'to carry into effect', formed from 'ex-' ('out') plus 'sequi' ('to follow'). It entered English via Old French in the late Middle English period, initially in legal use to denote someone charged with performing the provisions of a will. It shares its Latin root with related words such as 'execute', 'execution', and 'executive', as well as more distant relatives like 'sequence' and 'consequence', all tracing back to the idea of following or pursuing something through to completion.
Related word forms
How executor is actually used
In legal contexts, 'executor' specifically refers to someone named in a will to administer the estate; if appointed by a court without a will, the term is typically 'administrator'. The feminine form 'executrix' is traditional but increasingly rare. In computing, 'executor' refers to a component that runs tasks or instructions.
Easily confused with executor
An executioner is one who legally carries out capital punishment, whereas an executor is one who administers a will or executes a plan.