executioner

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion·​er ˌek-si-ˈkyü-sh(ə-)nər 

: one who executes

especially : one who puts to death

Examples of executioner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In May state officials called off the lethal injection of Tony Carruthers, who was convicted of kidnapping and killing three people in 1994, after executioners tried and failed for over an hour to place an IV to administer pentobarbital. — Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

However, conservative commentators have used the Cornell incident to caution against playing judge, jury, and executioner without allowing a thorough investigation. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

The scene cuts again to Wuornos’ body in the real world, surrounded by the executioner, the coroner and the police, who are announcing her time of death. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

But Bruce Wayne isn’t a boy anymore, and Batman can’t operate as a one-man judge, jury, and executioner. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

executioner

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion·​er ˌek-sə-ˈkyü-sh(ə-)nər 

: a person who carries out a sentence of death

Legal Definition

executioner

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion·​er ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shə-nər 

: one who puts another to death in fulfillment of a judicial death sentence