directive

[ dih-rek-tiv, dahy- ]

adjective

1. serving to direct; directing:

   a directive board.

2. Psychology. pertaining to a type of psychotherapy in which the therapist actively offers advice and information rather than dealing only with information supplied by the patient.

noun

1. an authoritative instruction or direction; specific order:

   a new directive by the president on foreign aid.

directive

/ dɪˈrɛktɪv; daɪ- /

noun

1. an instruction; order

adjective

1. tending to direct; directing
2. indicating direction

Other Words From

• self-di·rective adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of directive¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word dīrēctīvus. See direct, -ive

Example Sentences

Last week, those doubts were actualized as the country’s apex bank gave a directive to banks and financial institutions from dealing in cryptocurrency or facilitating payments for cryptocurrency exchange platforms.

From TechCrunch

He also bemoans last-minute directives from managers to work mandatory overtime shifts, sometimes coming just hours before the shift starts.

From Washington Post

Although the directive does not cover links or “very short extracts”.

From TechCrunch

France was the first country to transpose the EU directive into its own laws.

From Ars Technica

It issued a policy directive called Document 60 that year to enable large private investment in companies interested in participating in the space industry.

From MIT Technology Review

Chase supplements this general directive with some more pragmatic suggestions for women looking to find sexual fulfillment.

From The Daily Beast

The directive dates back to 1986, was kept secret and reportedly was abolished.

From The Daily Beast

Forcing them to abide by that directive through law is quite another.

From The Daily Beast

The National Football League never received a presidential directive but played anyway.

From The Daily Beast

To be air tight, you need something called an “Advance Directive.”

From The Daily Beast

What directive forces are these stirring millions likely to encounter?

From Project Gutenberg

The directive work of the school will thus become a practical realization in the home.

From Project Gutenberg

It had been said that the first campaign in its directive agencies was largely hit and miss.

From Project Gutenberg

Directive sovereignty of Measure — how explained and applied in the Protagoras.

From Project Gutenberg

Pfeffer in 1883 discovered chemotaxis, the directive action of chemical substances on the movement of mobile organisms.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• decree
• edict
• injunction
• mandate
• memo
• memorandum
• message
• notice
• order
• regulation
• ruling