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

This year’s lineup includes several returning auteurs, including films from Pedro Almodóvar, Asghar Farhadi, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi. —John Ross, Vanity Fair, 7 May 2026

Meanwhile, other indie auteurs, from Alex Garland to David Lowery, have worked with studios like A24 and Neon to repeatedly deliver punishing films that position cerebral complexity as an event worth visiting theaters to witness. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 May 2026

Welcome to the world of Gobby, who’s consistently put out some of the strangest music of the legions of beatmakers turned solo auteurs that emerged from the blog-rap era. —Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026

The blend of horror and comedy — two genres driven by tension that culminates in a cathartic payoff — has thrived in recent years at the box office, championed by auteurs like Jordan Peele and Zach Cregger. —Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026

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

• blotter
• cotter
• daughter
• hotter
• mater
• otter
• plotter
• rotter
• slaughter
• spotter
• squatter
• totter