Definition

A person who carries out the death penalty on someone who has been sentenced to die.

Example

The executioner prepared for the difficult task ahead.

Conversation

I just read a book about a medieval executioner and it was fascinating.

Really? That sounds intense!

Yeah, it explores the life of the executioner and the moral dilemmas they faced.

I can imagine — it must have been quite a challenging job.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Executioner → It is formed from "execute" (from Latin "exsequi", meaning to follow out or carry out) and "-er" (meaning a person who). An executioner is a person who carries out the act of execution.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'carries out' ('execute') a task — the '-er' just means a person. This helps you remember that an executioner is someone who carries out executions.

Visually Confused Words