directive

[dih-rek-tiv, dahy-]

See more synonyms for directive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

serving to direct; directing: a directive board.
Psychology. pertaining to a type of psychotherapy in which the therapist actively offers advice and information rather than dealing only with information supplied by the patient.

noun

an authoritative instruction or direction; specific order: a new directive by the president on foreign aid.

Origin of directive

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word dīrēctīvus. See direct, -ive

Related formsself-di·rec·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for directive

Contemporary Examples

The directive dates back to 1986, was kept secret and reportedly was abolished.
The Ghosts of Gaza: Israel’s Soldier Suicides
Creede Newton
October 28, 2014
Forcing them to abide by that directive through law is quite another.
Will Congress Back Medical Marijuana?
Abby Haglage
May 29, 2014
Lunch ladies were reportedly in tears being forced carry out a directive that goes against the entire purpose of their work.
The Schools That Starve Students to Punish Deadbeat Parents
Brandy Zadrozny
January 30, 2014
According to a directive sent to local county health departments, navigators are not allowed to conduct outreach on their grounds.
Fringe Factor: Wendy Davis Is Too Stupid to Be Governor
Caitlin Dickson
September 15, 2013
The government knowingly allowed the military-intelligence complex to repeatedly disregard its directive.
America’s Secret Government Program to Hire Nazi War Criminals
Richard Rashke
August 2, 2013

Historical Examples

Finally, he believed that Paul's directive was too detailed.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
You don't have to wait for a directive, and every one of you can find some improvement that could be made.
Final Weapon
Everett B. Cole
Life, therefore, cannot be an intelligent or a directive energy.
The Problems of Psychical Research
Hereward Carrington
The political function of the nation is both coercive and directive.
Society
Henry Kalloch Rowe
The directive might also include, in some detail, the action to be taken to this end.
Sound Military Decision
U.s. Naval War College

British Dictionary definitions for directive

directive

noun

an instruction; order

adjective

tending to direct; directing
indicating direction

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for directive

adj.

mid-15c., from Medieval Latin directivus, from past participle stem of Latin dirigere (see direct (v.)). From 1640s as a noun.

directive

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}directive

Examples from the Web for directive

Contemporary Examples

The directive dates back to 1986, was kept secret and reportedly was abolished.

Forcing them to abide by that directive through law is quite another.

Lunch ladies were reportedly in tears being forced carry out a directive that goes against the entire purpose of their work.

According to a directive sent to local county health departments, navigators are not allowed to conduct outreach on their grounds.

The government knowingly allowed the military-intelligence complex to repeatedly disregard its directive.

Historical Examples

Finally, he believed that Paul's directive was too detailed.

You don't have to wait for a directive, and every one of you can find some improvement that could be made.

Life, therefore, cannot be an intelligent or a directive energy.

The political function of the nation is both coercive and directive.

The directive might also include, in some detail, the action to be taken to this end.

directive

Word Origin and History for directive

adj.

Origin of directive