directive

1 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <the company president regularly issues directives intended for all staff members> Synonyms behest, charge, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, command, do, edict, imperative, injunction, instruction, order, wordRelated Words demand, requirement; mandate; countermand, counterorder; law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule; ordinance, regulation, statuteNear Antonyms appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging; proposal, recommendation, suggestion

2 an order publicly issued by an authority <a directive issued by the archbishop that is to be read during Sunday services at every parish> Synonyms bull, decree, diktat, edict, fiat, rescript, ruling, ukaseRelated Words call, conclusion, decision, deliverance, determination, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement), opinion, resolution, verdict; announcement, declaration, dictum, manifesto, proclamation, pronouncement; canon, encyclical

3 a written communication giving information or directions <a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president> Synonyms memorandum, memo, noticeRelated Words announcement, bulletin, declaration, notification, posting, proclamation, pronouncement, release; dispatch, report; edict, pronunciamento, rescript; charge, command, dictate; directions, instructions, orders, word; encyclical, epistle, jotting, letter, mail, message, missive, note, post [chiefly British]