directive
Americannoun
adjective
-
tending to direct; directing
-
indicating direction
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of directive
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word dīrēctīvus. See direct, -ive
Explanation
A directive is an order or official notice that comes from an authority. The directive from your boss instructing all employees to wear silly hats on Fridays might be hard to take seriously. Directives often come from employers, governments, supervisors, judges, or other authority figures. A math teacher might issue a directive to all students banning smart phones in the classroom after the school principal releases a directive instructing all math teachers to find ways to cut down on cheating during exams. Directive is also an adjective, meaning "helping to guide or manage."
Vocabulary lists containing directive
"When Do Kids Become Adults?" by Laurence Steinberg, et al.
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The Nazi Hunters
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The Unteachables
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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.
See Examples For:
“It started with her executive directive ... which made government be more proactive and work across departments, and not just rely on police.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
“This is not a Presidential directive, nor is it being directed by the White House,” the White House told the Post.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
The parties agreed to pause the lawsuit in anticipation of Ms. Rollins’s directive, and will file regular updates with the court.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
An advanced healthcare directive, something else worth considering, informs your doctors what action you want them to take if or when you are unable to make decisions yourself.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
The soldier repeated the directive, his voice more agitated.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
"The IDF takes every allegation or report raising concerns about conduct that may be inconsistent with the law or IDF directives with the utmost seriousness," it said in a statement.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Businesses aren’t bound by voluntary government directives, but they still operate in the real world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Wednesday’s filing marks the latest escalation in the legal fight over conditions at the facility and the government’s lack of compliance with the court’s directives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
To be sure, the president and the executive branch are charged with lawfully implementing congressional directives about the dispersal of appropriated funds.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
"Just the same, though, all who leave must be considered expendable. The new directives must be followed rigidly."
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
