# directive

/daɪˈɹɛktɪv/ (US) · /daɪɹˈɛktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/directive
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. official order

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an official order or instruction from a leader or a government.

For teachers: an authoritative instruction or decision issued by an official body, often requiring specific actions to be taken.

- The government issued a new directive to reduce plastic waste in all offices.
- The board of directors issued a strict directive regarding corporate travel, mandating that all international trips receive prior approval from the CFO.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'issue' or 'follow'.

### 2. European Union law

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a type of law in the European Union that tells member countries what goals they must reach.

For teachers: a legislative act of the European Union that requires member states to achieve a particular result without dictating the means of achieving it.

- The EU directive on renewable energy requires every member state to increase its use of wind power.
- Member states were given two years to transpose the new environmental directive into their own national legal frameworks.

Usage: Commonly used with 'transpose' or 'implement'.

### 3. programming instruction

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a special instruction in computer code that tells the computer how to handle the code itself.

For teachers: a construct in source code that specifies how a compiler or processor should treat the input, distinct from the executable logic.

- The programmer added a directive at the top of the file to include a library.
- The compiler directive ensured that certain blocks of code were only processed when the software was being tested in a development environment.

### 4. guiding

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

serving to guide, lead, or show the way.

For teachers: serving to direct, indicate, or provide guidance; often used in psychological or management contexts.

- The manager took a very directive approach, telling everyone exactly what to do.
- The therapist moved from a passive listening style to a more directive role to help the patient set concrete goals.

## Examples

- The manager issued a new directive about office safety.
- The European Union issued a directive requiring all member states to reduce plastic waste by the end of the decade.
- In software development, a compiler directive provides specific instructions on how to process the source code, though it does not necessarily translate into executable machine instructions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.