Library / English Dictionary

DIRECTIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A pronouncement encouraging or banning some activity

Example:

the boss loves to send us directives

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("directive" is a kind of...):

dictum; pronouncement; say-so (an authoritative declaration)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "directive"):

Presidential Directive (a directive issued by the President of the United States; usually addressed to all heads of departments and agencies)

Derivation:

direct (command with authority)

directive (showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on

Example:

the directional role of science on industrial progress

Synonyms:

directing; directional; directive; guiding

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

leading (going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way)

Derivation:

direct (plan and direct (a complex undertaking))

direct (be in charge of)

directive (a pronouncement encouraging or banning some activity)

directiveness; directivity (the quality of being directive)

Credits

 Context examples: 

By placing the CE marking on a product, the manufacturer affirms that the product conforms with the requirements of the applicable European Community directives.

(CE Mark, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

A type of advance directive in which a person states that healthcare providers should not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (restarting the heart) if his or her heart or breathing stops.

(DNR order, NCI Dictionary)