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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• directionality noun
• directionally adverb
• undirectional adjective

Etymology

Origin of directional

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

Example Sentences

When the market’s directional trend is hijacked by forces that marginalize financial metrics like corporate earnings growth and profit margins, it’s more significant than merely investor sentiment souring.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

These vibrations mix electronic states and effectively push the electron across the boundary, creating a directional, ballistic motion instead of slow and random diffusion.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2026

Also, LED lights "are a lot more directional, so you've got this much brighter, whiter light in a very directional point hitting your eye compared to the more diffuse halogen ones".

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

EAGAR, Ariz.—Sammy Collins twists and pulls on a directional drill’s controls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

Bando lays his compass beside the directional stone and adjusts it.

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