What does "execution" mean?

1. (carrying out a plan) the act of doing something that has been planned or designed. 2. (death penalty) the legal killing of someone as a punishment for a crime. 3. (artistic skill) the way someone performs a piece of music or creates a work of art. 4. (computing) the process of a computer running a program or following instructions. 5. (legal validity) the act of making a legal document, like a contract, valid by signing it.

How do you use "execution"?

Often used with 'of' to describe the task being completed. Usually uncountable when referring to the concept, but countable when referring to specific events. Commonly used in the phrase 'execution of a contract' or 'execution of a deed'.

execution

US //ˌɛksəkˈjuʃən// UK //ˌɛksɪkjˈuːʃən// ex·e·cu·tion

1 carrying out a plan (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of doing something that has been planned or designed.

the act of performing or carrying out a task, plan, or piece of work to completion.

Example

The idea for the new business was great, but the execution was poor.

Example

While the strategic vision was sound, the project failed due to poor execution at the local level.

Usage

Often used with 'of' to describe the task being completed.
- failure
- neglect
2 death penalty (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Law

the legal killing of someone as a punishment for a crime.

the carrying out of a sentence of death on a condemned person.

Example

The prisoner is facing execution for his crimes.

Example

The governor refused to grant a stay of execution despite the emergence of new DNA evidence.

Usage

Usually uncountable when referring to the concept, but countable when referring to specific events.
- capital punishment
- putting to death
- pardon
- reprieve

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3 artistic skill (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic

the way someone performs a piece of music or creates a work of art.

the manner or style in which an artistic work is produced or a technique is applied.

Example

The pianist's execution of the difficult piece was perfect.

Example

Critics praised the painter's technical execution, though they found the subject matter somewhat derivative.
4 computing (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

the process of a computer running a program or following instructions.

the process by which a computer or virtual machine carries out the instructions of a computer program.

Example

The execution of the script took only a few seconds.

Example

The software architecture was designed to optimize the execution of parallel threads across multiple processor cores.
- processing
- running
5 legal validity (n.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Law

the act of making a legal document, like a contract, valid by signing it.

the formal completion of a legal instrument, such as a contract or will, typically by signing and delivering it.

Example

We need to witness the execution of the will.

Example

The validity of the agreement was challenged on the grounds that the execution of the document was not properly witnessed.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'execution of a contract' or 'execution of a deed'.
- signing
- validation

Origin

From Old French execution (c.1360), from Latin exsecutiō, an agent noun from exsequor (“to follow out”), from ex (“out”) + sequor (“follow”). Equivalent to execute + -ion.