directional

American  

[dih-rek-shuh-nl, dahy-] / dɪˈrɛk ʃə nl, daɪ- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or indicating direction in space.

2. Radio. adapted for determining the direction of signals received, or for transmitting signals in a given direction.

   a directional antenna.

3. of, relating to, or providing guidance or leadership.

---

directional British  

/ dɪˈrɛkʃənəl, daɪ- /

adjective

1. of or relating to a spatial direction

2. electronics

   1. having or relating to an increased sensitivity to radio waves, sound waves, nuclear particles, etc, coming from a particular direction

   2. (of an aerial) transmitting or receiving radio waves more effectively in some directions than in others

3. physics electronics

   1. concentrated in, following, or producing motion in a particular direction

   2. indicating direction

4. indicating the direction something, such as a fashion trend, might take

   directional fashion looks

---

Other Word Forms

• directionality
  noun
• undirectional
  adjective
• directionally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of directional

First recorded in 1605–15; direction + -al ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

directional

Our financial adviser wants us to invest our money in an annuity with dual directional indexed accounts.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026

The structure lets retail investors trade with leverage that can reach 100 times their posted collateral at some crypto exchanges, with simple directional bets uncomplicated by mechanics like options volatility or decay.

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

"The transition is no longer directional but substantive," India's automobile dealers association said in a press note recently.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026

Those experiments showed that MoOCl2 could guide light in highly directional and unexpected ways.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 2026

“And she plotted her directional line too,” I say, pointing to the little pebbles lined up there.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George