directive

1 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned the company president regularly issues directives intended for all staff members Synonyms behest, charge, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, command, do, edict, imperative, injunction, instruction, order, wordRelated Words demand, requirement; mandate; countermand, counterorder; law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule; ordinance, regulation, statuteNear Antonyms appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging; proposal, recommendation, suggestion

2 an order publicly issued by an authority a directive issued by the archbishop that is to be read during Sunday services at every parish Synonyms bull, decree, diktat, edict, fiat, rescript, ruling, ukaseRelated Words call, conclusion, decision, deliverance, determination, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement), opinion, resolution, verdict; announcement, declaration, dictum, manifesto, proclamation, pronouncement; canon, encyclical

3 a written communication giving information or directions a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president Synonyms memorandum, memo, noticeRelated Words announcement, bulletin, declaration, notification, posting, proclamation, pronouncement, release; dispatch, report; edict, pronunciamento, rescript; charge, command, dictate; directions, instructions, orders, word; encyclical, epistle, jotting, letter, mail, message, missive, note, post [chiefly British]