Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for director. Search instead for subdirector.
Synonyms

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.


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

"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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Most state utility commissions are appointed, but of the 10 that are elected, nine have elections this year, said Charles Hua, executive director of PowerLines, a nonprofit that advocates for utility customers.

From The Wall Street Journal

The World Food Programme's Afghanistan director John Aylieff told AFP this week that five million women and children would experience life-threatening malnutrition in a worsening crisis in the country of 40 million people.

From Barron's

"I want to frankly apologise for placing a psychological burden on the personnel director," he said.

From BBC

“Iran brought down the iron fist with speed and ferocity we haven’t seen before,” said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Xiamen bid signals "China's intention to help shape global rules," said Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington, calling it a "notable move."

From Barron's