directive
Americannoun
adjective
-
tending to direct; directing
-
indicating direction
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of directive
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word dīrēctīvus. See direct, -ive
Explanation
A directive is an order or official notice that comes from an authority. The directive from your boss instructing all employees to wear silly hats on Fridays might be hard to take seriously. Directives often come from employers, governments, supervisors, judges, or other authority figures. A math teacher might issue a directive to all students banning smart phones in the classroom after the school principal releases a directive instructing all math teachers to find ways to cut down on cheating during exams. Directive is also an adjective, meaning "helping to guide or manage."
Vocabulary lists containing directive
"When Do Kids Become Adults?" by Laurence Steinberg, et al.
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The Nazi Hunters
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The Unteachables
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It builds on an executive directive the mayor signed in April, which aims to cut delays, introduce tech automation and speed up building permits for residential and commercial development.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
“This is not a Presidential directive, nor is it being directed by the White House,” the White House told the Post.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
The parties agreed to pause the lawsuit in anticipation of Ms. Rollins’s directive, and will file regular updates with the court.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
An advanced healthcare directive, something else worth considering, informs your doctors what action you want them to take if or when you are unable to make decisions yourself.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
Like most advice on style that is couched as a commandment rather than an explanation, the flat directive to avoid negations is almost useless.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
We don’t have directives to read or position papers to study.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026
Other students have also brought cases across the country, but different directives have been issued, adding to the confusion.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Filippi also claims he refused to comply with directives that he believed would put passengers in harm’s way and said that Kettle downplayed risks or dismissed them outright.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
To be sure, the president and the executive branch are charged with lawfully implementing congressional directives about the dispersal of appropriated funds.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
Burnham issued stern directives to Olmsted and Ferris and to every contractor still at work.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
