director
13 synonyms and 2 antonyms for director, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person in charge of a department, organization, or project.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
film director
music director
theater director
theatre director
managing director
Antonyms
How to use director
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
film director
board of directors
managing director
director of
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French directeur, from Late Latin dīrēctōrem.
Full origin of director →Frequently asked questions
What does “director” mean?
The word “director” means a person in charge of a department, organization, or project. In plain terms, someone in charge — of a company department, a board, or a creative production like a film.
How do you pronounce “director”?
“Director” is pronounced dih-REHK-tuh (/dɪˈɹɛk.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “director” in a sentence?
Here is “director” used in a sentence: “She was promoted to director of operations.”
What part of speech is “director”?
“Director” is a noun.
Where does the word “director” come from?
The word “director” comes from Late Latin. Borrowed from Middle French directeur, from Late Latin dīrēctōrem.
Is “director” a common word?
“Director” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “director” have?
“Director” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person in charge of a department, organization, or project.
What is the difference between a director and a manager?
Both lead others, but a director usually sits higher, setting strategy and overall direction for a department or whole organisation. A manager handles day-to-day operations and supervises staff within that direction. Directors decide where things are going; managers make sure the daily work gets there. Directors typically oversee managers.
What is the difference between a director and a CEO?
A CEO, or chief executive officer, is the single most senior leader running an entire company. A director leads a specific department, function, or project, or sits on the board that oversees the company. There are usually many directors but only one CEO, who ranks above departmental directors.
What are the types of directors?
The title covers several roles. A managing director runs a company's operations; executive directors lead major functions like finance or marketing; non-executive directors sit on the board to advise and oversee; and project directors head specific initiatives. In each case, the director is the person in overall charge.
