- [uncountable, countable] the act of killing somebody, especially as a legal punishment
- He faced execution by hanging for murder.
- Over 200 executions were carried out last year.
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictc1, Crime and punishmentc1- Human rights organizations have accused the army of summary executions.
- She was taken prisoner and suffered eventual execution.
- If caught, the men could face execution.
- The US Supreme Court refused to stay the execution.
- The army oversaw the trial and execution of the king.
- The tribunal ordered the execution of 42 coup plotters.
- prisoners who are on death row awaiting execution
- the hours before his scheduled execution
- the Supreme Court decision to ban juvenile executions
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- public
- mass
- judicial
- …
- order
- face
- await
- …
- go ahead
- take place
- execution by
- a stay of execution
- [uncountable] (formal) the act of doing a piece of work, performing a duty, or putting a plan into action
- He had failed in the execution of his duty.
- The idea was good, but the execution was poor.
- The company is liable for any damage caused by faulty execution of the building work.
Extra Examples- proper execution of the exercise
- She was charged with obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his duties.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- effective
- successful
- proper
- …
- delay
- stay
- suspend
- …
- the execution of your duty
- [uncountable] (formal) skill in performing or making something, such as a piece of music or work of art
- Her execution of the piano piece was perfect.
- the poor execution of the film
- [uncountable] (law) the act of following the instructions in a legal document, especially those in somebody’s will
- The solicitors are proceeding with the execution of her mother’s will.
Extra Examples- the successful execution of the contract
- The court has discretion to stay or suspend execution of the order.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- effective
- successful
- proper
- …
- delay
- stay
- suspend
- …
- the execution of your duty
Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin executio(n-), from exsequi ‘follow up, punish’, from ex- ‘out’ + sequi ‘follow’.
Idioms
See execution in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee execution in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englisha stay of execution
- (law) a delay in following the order of a court
- to grant a stay of execution
- There will be no stay of execution and few mourners for this concrete tower block, due to be demolished next month.
Check pronunciation:
execution