director

American  

[dih-rek-ter, dahy-] / dɪˈrɛk tər, daɪ- /

noun

1. a person or thing that directs.

   Synonyms:

   boss, chief, administrator, leader, manager, head, supervisor

2. one of a group of persons chosen to control or govern the affairs of a company or corporation.

   a board of directors.

   Synonyms:

   boss, chief, administrator, leader, manager, head, supervisor

3. the person responsible for the interpretive aspects of a stage, film, or television production; the person who supervises the integration of all the elements, as acting, staging, and lighting, required to realize the writer's conception.

4. the musical conductor of an orchestra, chorus, etc.

5. the manager or chief executive of certain schools, institutes, government bureaus, etc.

   Synonyms:

   boss, chief, administrator, leader, manager, head, supervisor

6. Military. a mechanical or electronic device that continuously calculates firing data for use against an airplane or other moving target.

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director British  

/ daɪ-, dɪˈrɛktə /

noun

1. a person or thing that directs, controls, or regulates

2. a member of the governing board of a business concern who may or may not have an executive function

3. a person who directs the affairs of an institution, trust, educational programme, etc

4. the person responsible for the artistic and technical aspects of making a film or television programme Compare producer

5. music another word (esp US) for conductor

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Other Word Forms

• directorial adjective
• directorially adverb
• directorship noun
• directress noun
• predirector noun
• self-director noun
• subdirector noun
• subdirectorship noun

Etymology

Origin of director

From Late Latin, dating back to 1470–80; direct, -tor

Example Sentences

“Blue Lake Rancheria acknowledges the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources — including offshore wind — as part of addressing climate change,” said Heidi Moore-Guynup, director of tribal and government affairs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

“Put in $25, $50 — get something started,” Joseph Messinger, a financial planner and director of college planning at Capstone Wealth Partners, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

“Arizona is just the alarm bell,” said Joseph Palomino, executive director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, a nonpartisan advocacy organization.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

David Janovsky has worked on federal transparency issues for decades and is acting director of the Constitution Project at the Project on Government Oversight.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2026

While the TV crew finished setting up, the director walked over to have a hushed conversation with Jenny.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• administrator
• chief
• executive
• head
• leader
• organizer
• player
• principal
• producer
• supervisor