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

The new auteurs of the 1990s reflected a broader shift in tone across the culture toward something scruffier and more disillusioned—the cinematic equivalent of Nirvana on the radio and Marc Jacobs’s Perry Ellis grunge collection on the runway. —Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026

Mondevo’s network and infrastructure give us the reach to support the auteurs and storytellers across the regions that are producing some of the best new content. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026

Radu Jude’s The Diary of a Chambermaid Radu Jude is not one of the Romanian auteurs favored by Cannes. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026

In the most ironic misalignment, the industry celebrates the myth of the lone auteur and then punishes anyone who actually tries to be one. —Daren Smith, IndieWire, 18 Mar. 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

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