directive
directive Lexical Profile
directive Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An official or authoritative instruction, order, or policy statement issued by a governing body, executive, or senior authority.
"The hospital administration issued a new directive requiring all staff to complete annual safety training."
In computing, a specific statement or command in source code that instructs a compiler, preprocessor, or interpreter on how to process the program.
"Adding the appropriate compiler directive at the top of the file prevents the header from being included multiple times."
• adjective
Serving to guide, govern, or manage an action, process, or course of behavior.
"The therapist adopted a directive approach to help the client establish immediate daily routines."
• Rhymes for directive
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late Middle Ages from Medieval Latin directivus, derived from the past participle stem of Latin dirigere, meaning 'to set straight, guide, or direct'. While first used in English as an adjective, the noun sense referring to an official order gained widespread prominence in the mid-20th century.