director

noun

di·​rec·​tor də-ˈrek-tər 

dī-

: one who directs: such as

a

: the head of an organized group or administrative unit (such as a bureau or school)

director of religious education

a communications director

b

: one of a group of persons entrusted with the overall direction of a corporate enterprise

on the board of directors for a large corporation

c

: a person who supervises the production of a show (as for stage or screen) usually with responsibility for action, lighting, music, and rehearsals

a famous Hollywood director

d

music : conductor sense c

directorship

də-ˈrek-tər-ˌship 

dī-

noun

Synonyms

• administrant
• administrator
• archon
• exec
• executive
• manager
• superintendent
• supervisor

Examples of director in a Sentence

The company will hire a new director of marketing.

She's the director of graduate studies at the university.

She's considered one of the best young directors in Hollywood.

Recent Examples on the Web

The addition of an aquatic center had been on the city's radar for years, Corey Larriva, the city's assistant director of parks and recreation, previously told The Arizona Republic. —Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 20 Apr. 2024

The following year, he was named the institute’s director. —Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 20 Apr. 2024

And yet the dog-loving creative director was too good to be true. —Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024

Elliott will return as director, writer and producer, and is seeking a producing partner for the sequel. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 20 Apr. 2024

Columbine itself continues to be a target, too, said John McDonald, former executive director of school safety for Jefferson County Schools in Colorado. —USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

So the fun of the director’s cuts is the hour of additional footage in each of the films. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024

The resignation comes after a series of missteps including the misallocation of more than $100,000 in taxpayer funds resulting in the closure of the weatherization program, layoffs of 28 employees and the termination of the finance director. —Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024

The concert will feature the Friends’ two co-artistic directors, cellist Dmitri Atapine and pianist Hyeyeon Park, along with four other superlative musicians, performing works by Mendelssohn, Schubert and Suk. —Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see direct entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing director

• casting director
• co-director
• director of photography
• director's chair
• director's cut
• funeral director
• managing director
• program director
• stage director
• sub-director

Kids Definition

director

noun

di·​rec·​tor də-ˈrek-tər 

dī-

: one that directs: as

a

: one of a group of persons who direct the business of an organized body (as a corporation)

the board of directors

b

: one that guides the making of a show (as for stage or screen)

c

: conductor sense 2

directorial

də-ˌrek-ˈtōr-ē-əl

(ˌ)dī-

-ˈtȯr-

adjective

directorship

də-ˈrek-tər-ˌship 

dī-

noun

Medical Definition

director

noun

di·​rec·​tor də-ˈrek-tər, dī- 

: an instrument grooved to guide and limit the motion of a surgical knife

Legal Definition

director

noun

di·​rec·​tor

1

: the head of an organized group or administrative unit or agency

2

: any of a group of persons usually elected by shareholders and entrusted with the overall control of a corporation

Note: Directors owe a fiduciary duty to the shareholders in the exercise of their powers. Directors have the power to appoint and dismiss officers, declare and pay dividends on stock, initiate major corporate actions such as mergers or dissolution, and determine other matters affecting the corporation.

directorship noun