auteur

noun

au·​teur ō-ˈtu̇r 

-ˈtər

1

: a film director whose practice accords with the auteur theory

broadly : director sense c

2

: an artist (such as a musician or writer) whose style and practice are distinctive

auteurist

ō-ˈtər-ist 

adjective or noun

Examples of auteur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Norway famously gave us Liv Ullmann, muse to the Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, but since then, this country of just 5.55 million people continues to punch above its weight, adding a long line of actresses of a similar caliber. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 July 2025

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, the madcap delivery sequel from gaming’s preeminent auteur, Hideo Kojima, is a terrific example of a fantasy that video games do brilliantly: hiking through the wilderness. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025

It’s also become a haven for auteurs whose films might not otherwise get made, either because of pricey budgets or risky genres. —Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 7 July 2025

There's something defeating in watching a restless auteur essentially turn on infinite lives for his unfinished drafts. —Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, originator, author, from Old French autor, from Latin auctor — more at author

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing auteur

• auteur theory

Rhymes for auteur

• amour
• grandeur
• hauteur
• velour
• verdure
• voyeur
• doer
• poor
• poore
• raconteur