director

[dih-rek-ter, dahy-]

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.

director

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of director¹

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

Example Sentences

When LSU gave him the heave-ho in October, the athletic director cited Coach Kelly’s failure to “lead us to multiple SEC and national championships.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Cincinnati-based Scripps said in a statement saying the company’s board of directors “will carefully review and evaluate any proposals, including the unsolicited Sinclair offer.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A federal judge dismissed the government’s case against former FBI director James Comey after finding the sole prosecutor was not lawfully serving in her role.

Read more on Salon

He said his job is now "to steer the ship" – and begin the search for the next director general.

Read more on BBC

Shah said he "applauded" Turness for doing the "honourable and proper" thing and stepping down as CEO of News, but said he did not think "that meant that the director general had also to resign".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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