executioner
/ɛksɪˈkjuːʃ(ə)nə
/noun
An official who carries out a sentence of death on a condemned person.It had been difficult to find an executioner to carry out the sentence....
- It will also tell the story of Henry's brother Thomas, who was the longest serving of the Pierrepoint executioners and carried out around 300 hangings in 40 years.
- He has repeatedly appealed to his supporters and voters not to offer any resistance and to continue to trust the state, its executioners and its prison wardens.
Synonyms
hangman, official killer;
firing squad
historical headsman, Jack Ketch