directory

American  

[dih-rek-tuh-ree, -tree, dahy-] / dɪˈrɛk tə ri, -tri, daɪ- /

noun

plural

directories

1. a book containing an alphabetical index of the names and addresses of persons in a city, district, organization, etc., or of a particular category of people.

2. a board or tablet on a wall of a building listing the room and floor numbers of the occupants.

3. a book of directions.

4. Computers.

   1. Also called folder.  an organizing unit in a computer's file system for storing and locating files. In a hierarchical file system, directories can contain child directories subdirectories as well as files.

   2. a description of characteristics of a particular file, as the layout of fields within each record.

5. French History. the Directory, the body of five directors forming the executive power of France from 1795 to 1799.

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adjective

1. serving to direct; directing; directive.

directory ¹ British  

/ dɪˈrɛktərɪ, -trɪ, daɪ- /

noun

1. a book, arranged alphabetically or classified by trade listing names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc, of individuals or firms

2. a book or manual giving directions

3. a book containing the rules to be observed in the forms of worship used in churches

4. a less common word for directorate

5. computing an area of a disk, Winchester disk, or floppy disk that contains the names and locations of files currently held on that disk

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adjective

1. directing

Directory ² British  

/ -trɪ, dɪˈrɛktərɪ, daɪ- /

noun

1. Also known as: the French Directory.  history the body of five directors in power in France from 1795 until their overthrow by Napoleon in 1799

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Etymology

Origin of directory

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin dīrēctōrium, noun use of Late Latin dīrēctōrius directorial; directory in def. 5, translation of French Directoire, from Medieval Latin, as above

Explanation

A directory is a type of catalog, an organized list of people or businesses and how to contact them. If you need to find your lab partner's phone number, check the school directory. An old-fashioned phone book is a directory, an alphabetical list of the people in your city or town, along with their phone number and address. These days such a directory is more often found online. In computing, a directory is also known as a folder, and it contains information about how data is stored in a computer. In the 16th century, a directory was a book of religious guidelines and rules. Directory comes from a Latin root meaning "to set straight."

Example Sentences

“Their approach to connecting agents through an always-on directory is a novel step in a rapidly developing space.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

To find a certified group psychotherapist in your area, the American Group Psychotherapy Association has a provider directory.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026

And the second was the directory in which the file was put ahead of publication allowed anyone to download a file directly.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2025

According to the mall’s online directory, popular shops such as Victoria’s Secret, Vans and Kay Jewelers are still open.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

He found a telephone directory in a filling station and he wrote the name of the town on their map with a pencil.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Related Words

• almanac
• catalogue
• list
• yellow pages