director
dih-REHK-tuh
Director (noun) means a person in charge of a department, organization, or project. Example: “She was promoted to director of operations.”
noun
1
A person in charge of a department, organization, or project.
"She was promoted to director of operations."
"The director of the museum gave a short speech to the staff."
"As finance director, he reports directly to the chief executive."
2
The person responsible for overseeing the creative side of a film, play, or show.
"The director praised the cast for their performances."
"The director asked the actors to repeat the scene once more."
"A young director has made her first film about village life."
3
A member of a company's board of directors.
"The board of directors approved the new budget."
"Each director must sign the annual report before it is published."
"He resigned as a director of the company after the merger."
How to use director
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone in charge — of a company department, a board, or a creative production like a film.
Common pairings
film director
board of directors
managing director
director of
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Word forms
- Plural
- directors
Fill the gap
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She was promoted to _____ of operations.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French directeur, from Late Latin dīrēctōrem.
Synonyms
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head
manager
executive
chief
administrator
supervisor
leader
conductor
film director
music director
theater director
theatre director
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for director
vector
hector
rector
sector
ejector
Spector
detector
defector
injector
inspector
collector
protector
See all rhymes for 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.
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