CEO

noun

ˌsē-(ˌ)ē-ˈō How to pronounce CEO (audio)
: the executive with the chief decision-making authority in an organization or business

Examples of CEO in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Julie Butner, president and CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank, said the organization has been able to maintain balanced supply and distribution through the local food purchase agreement. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025 After months of negotiations, Local 10’s E.R. Bert Medina, WPLG CEO and president, said on Thursday that ABC and WPLG, owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, could not agree on an extended affiliation agreement. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

chief executive officer

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of CEO was in 1914

Rhymes for CEO

See All Rhymes for CEO

Browse Nearby Words

century plant
CEO
ceorl
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“CEO.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/CEO. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

CEO

noun
ˌsē-ˌē-ˈō How to pronounce CEO (audio)
: the executive with the chief decision-making power in an organization or business
Etymology

chief executive officer

Legal Definition

CEO

noun
ˌsē-ē-ˈō How to pronounce CEO (audio)
: the executive with the chief decision-making authority in an organization or business
Etymology

chief executive officer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
kestrel
Name That Bird Quiz Are you as wise as an owl or just another birdbrain?
See All