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:
The league office needs to send a directive to all team owners, coaches, players and referees, to stop this behavior and play like professionals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
In May, he said publicly that his "directive" was to move to 70%.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
The proposed directive would require a “detailed inspection” of the seat installation, the FAA said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration released a preliminary directive ordering inspections on more than 450 US 737 MAX jets over potential faulty installation of passenger seats.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Elissa asked her when they heard the directive.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Once elevated to his new posts, Salisbury took charge of carrying out the second Trump administration’s agenda for HSI, personally issuing staffing directives, reassignments and promotions, current and former agency officials told ProPublica.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
You have wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, long-term care insurance, organized records for your executor, and mutually agreed-upon beneficiary designations.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
The U.K. has instead retained some of the most stringent EU environmental directives even as it added more of its own.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
The directives also require the companies to remove the millions of pounds of rotting food inside the warehouse within 45 days.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
I could be a deaf-mute as far as most of this goes, and despite all the orientation directives to smile and exude personal warmth, autism might be a definite advantage.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Definitions 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.
