# directory

/daɪˈɹɛktɝi/ (US) · /daɪɹˈɛktəɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/directory
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a list of contacts

noun · CEFR B1

a book or list that contains names, addresses, and phone numbers of people or businesses.

For teachers: a systematic list of names, addresses, or other data, typically arranged alphabetically or by category.

- I looked up the local plumber's number in the business directory.
- The university publishes an internal directory every autumn to help staff and students locate departmental offices and contact details.

### 2. a computer folder

noun · CEFR B1 · Technical

a place on a computer where you store and organise files.

For teachers: a virtual container in a computer's file system used to organise files and other subdirectories.

- You should save all your holiday photos in a separate directory on your hard drive.
- The script failed to execute because it could not find the necessary configuration files in the root directory.

Usage: Often used interchangeably with 'folder' in graphical user interfaces.

### 3. a group of leaders

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a small group of people who lead a government or an organisation together.

For teachers: a body of directors or a collegial executive that exercises governing power.

- The company is managed by a directory of five senior partners.
- Historians often study the French Directory, the five-man committee that governed France during the later stages of the Revolution.

## Examples

- You can find her number in the staff directory.
- The system administrator created a new directory on the server to store the monthly financial reports.
- While physical phone directories have largely vanished, digital business directories remain essential for local search engine optimisation and connecting service providers with their target demographics.

---

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.