ENGLISH
REFERENCE

executioner

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˌɛksəkˈjuʃənɝ// UK //ˌɛksɪkjˈuːʃənɐ// ex·e·cu·tion·er Archaic

n. a person whose job is to kill someone who has been sentenced to death by a court. This word is mostly used when talking about history or stories.

n. an official appointed to carry out a death sentence. Often used in historical or literary contexts to describe the person performing a capital punishment.


SIMPLE

The executioner wore a black mask to hide his face.

CONTEXTUAL

In medieval times, the executioner was often a feared figure who lived on the outskirts of the city.

COMPLEX

The novel explores the psychological burden placed upon the royal executioner, who must balance his duty to the crown against his own moral reservations.

Origin

From execution + -er.

Usage

Commonly used in historical narratives; in modern legal contexts, terms like 'execution technician' or 'corrections officer' are more frequent.

Idioms1 entry

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