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

Madonna was stopped dead in her tracks by the strapping 30-year-old auteur of the nouvelle vague gangster movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, an eye-popping directorial debut. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026

This year’s Cinema Paradiso lineup reflects the festival’s mix of cinephile nostalgia, contemporary auteurs, live music and Parisian spectacle. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 July 2026

Movies, a cinematic experience with great auteurs and international acclaim, were seen as far more prestigious than television, despite the latter's much larger audience. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Netflix loves to trumpet their championing of cinematic auteurs like Martin Scorsese, Jane Campion, Alfonso Cuaron and Greta Gerwig, among many others. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 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