director's chair

American  

noun

1. a lightweight folding armchair with transversely crossed legs and having a canvas seat and back panel, as traditionally used by motion-picture directors.

---

director's chair British  

noun

1. a light wooden folding chair with arm rests and a canvas seat and back

---

Etymology

Origin of director's chair

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

But you don’t have to play every role yourself—take the director’s chair, define the scenes, and choose your cast from the parts of yourself that serve the story you truly want to tell.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

At a recent auction of “The David Lynch Collection,” the director’s espresso machine sold for $45,500, his director’s chair for $95,000, and an incense holder he made himself in 1974 for $52,000.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2025

Perhaps she'll return to the director's chair in 2025?

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2024

This is probably a result of putting a legendary animator in the director’s chair for the project.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2023

Mr. McGuire sat down on his special blue director's chair in the front of the studio.

From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene