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
au·teur·ism
ō-ˈtər-ˌi-zəm 
-ˈtœr-
plural -s
auteuristic
adjective
ˌō-ˌtər-ˈi-stik,
-ˌtœr-
While it might be too glib to say that Allen's art mirrors his life, it is certainly true to say that his films are auteuristic expressions of his own neuroses and concerns.
—
Neil Norman, Evening Standard (London), 14 Aug. 1992
Neil Norman, Evening Standard (London), 14 Aug. 1992
Examples of auteur in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nick Newman, IndieWire, 1 June 2026
What’s going to happen to these auteurs?
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 1 June 2026
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival was a little quieter than previous editions, to be sure—there was a dearth of Hollywood blockbusters, some more middling work from respected auteurs, and a few genuine head-scratchers.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 May 2026
Each May, movie stars and celebrities descend on the South of France for the international event, where high-profile films from the industry’s auteurs make their premiere.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for auteur
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Noun
In the decade since her public coming-out as a trans woman — after years spent as a reclusive auteur around whom basic physical evidence barely existed — Wachowski has done a bit more to put herself in a public spotlight.
—Nick Newman, IndieWire, 1 June 2026
What’s going to happen to these auteurs?
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 1 June 2026
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival was a little quieter than previous editions, to be sure—there was a dearth of Hollywood blockbusters, some more middling work from respected auteurs, and a few genuine head-scratchers.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 May 2026
Each May, movie stars and celebrities descend on the South of France for the international event, where high-profile films from the industry’s auteurs make their premiere.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for auteur
Cite this Entry
“Auteur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auteur. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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