auteur

American  

[oh-tur, oh-tœr] / oʊˈtɜr, oʊˈtœr /

noun

plural

auteurs

1. a filmmaker whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp.

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auteur British  

/ ɔːˈtɜː /

noun

1. a director whose creative influence on a film is so great as to be considered its author

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Other Word Forms

• auteurism noun
• auteurist adjective

Etymology

Origin of auteur

1960–65; < French: literally, author, originator < Latin auctor. See author

Explanation

If you're an auteur, you make movies that show off your personal style and vision, and you make those movies exactly the way you want: you won’t let any studio executives force you to change the ending. The word auteur came into English from the French word of the same name, meaning literally “author.” If you’re an auteur, you are truly the author of your own movie. Most movies have a lot of different people contributing to the final product, but an auteur insists on having the final say, and hates it when her vision is compromised. The word even has an uppity feel and sound to it. Pronounce it "oh-TUR."

Example Sentences

Any movie lover with half a mind knows that the auteur theory is bunk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

"Enough people among my colleagues voted and said: 'You did a good job as director,' and that means a lot," said the 52-year-old Danish-Norwegian auteur filmmaker.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

Squarespace is the venue for the latest collaboration between Emma Stone and auteur director Yorgos Lanthimos.

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2026

In March 2022, forward-thinking British pop auteur Charli xcx released what was to be her “sellout” record, “Crash.”

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

“My dad said I should film on my own because that’s what auteur directors’ do, but I don’t really want to.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio