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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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:
City Council voted Tuesday to permanently adopt an affordable housing streamlining directive introduced by Mayor Karen Bass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 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
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
The KMT high command’s directive was for Fang to hold Hengyang for at least two weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
She didn’t think she could retain one more concept, directive, or lecture about the history of the splendor's use.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Several executive-branch directives dictate how fast agencies must patch cybersecurity vulnerabilities and how thoroughly they must keep inventory of the software they use.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Wednesday’s filing marks the latest escalation in the legal fight over conditions at the facility and the government’s lack of compliance with the court’s directives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 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
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
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
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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.
