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

Directional selection works to shift a population’s variance toward a new, fit phenotype, as environmental conditions change.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Honor says the feature works using “AI Directional Sound” technology, using the screen itself to transmit low and medium-frequency sounds, leaving the earpiece to handle high frequencies, allegedly resulting in less sound leakage.

From The Verge • May 12, 2022

Sure, Lanky McRocketarm threw three interceptions and bounced a screen pass off a defender’s face mask against Directional State on Saturday.

From New York Times • Jan. 14, 2021

Directional Kentucky … we’ll say that Michigan’s the bigger football state and go Michigan over Kentucky.

From Golf Digest • Dec. 20, 2019

Some of the movements of the wolves during the Directional Movements Phase could in part have resulted from a tendency for the animals to home, that is to return to their home territory.

From An Experimental Translocation of the Eastern Timber Wolf by Hook, Richard A.