auteur

[ oh-tur; French oh-tœr ]

noun

, plural au·teurs [oh-, turz, oh-, tœr].

1. a filmmaker whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp.

auteur

/ ɔːˈtɜː /

noun

1. a director whose creative influence on a film is so great as to be considered its author

Derived Forms

• auˈteurist, adjective
• auˈteurism, noun

Other Words From

• au·teurism noun
• au·teurist adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of auteur¹

1960–65; < French: literally, author, originator < Latin auctor. See author

Word History and Origins

Origin of auteur¹

French: author

Example Sentences

Now, with “My Name is Alfred Hitchcock,” filmmaker Mark Cousins puts his own spin on the auteur.

From Salon

In person, Baker is boyish and down to earth, his clothes a comfy, unpretentious combo of sweatshirt and nondescript jeans, the familiar wardrobe of this most unassuming of America’s new wave of indie auteurs.

From Los Angeles Times

His years working as a video rental store clerk were pivotal in transforming Quentin Tarantino from a film geek to a Hollywood auteur, the Pulp Fiction director told the BBC.

From BBC

While not a practicing Jew in any sense, Kubrick was acutely aware of his Jewish identity, which consequently influenced his work as an auteur.

From Salon

The polished R&B crooner and the elusive indie-folk auteur joined forces to create Legend’s new album, ‘My Favorite Dream.’

From Los Angeles Times