French word

directive

Pronunciation

IPA/diʁɛktiv/

Meaning

  • feminine nouninstruction

Example

J'ai reçu une directive de mon responsable.

I received instructions from my supervisor.

Illustration for directive (instruction)

More examples

Les parents ont donné une directive pour l'heure du coucher.

The parents issued a directive about bedtime.

Core concept

An official line set by an authority that organizes what others should do.

Common phrases

  • donner une directive

    issue a directive

  • obéir à une directive

    obey a directive

  • une directive claire

    a clear directive

Similar words

demande: A request asking someone to do something.
recommandation: Advice or a proposal encouraging a particular action or choice.
instruction: Specific guidance explaining how to perform a task or follow a procedure.
ordre: A forceful command requiring obedience.

Definition in French

Instruction officielle donnée par une autorité ou une organisation pour orienter une action ou fixer une règle.

Word origin

French directive developed within the family of diriger, which comes from Latin dirigere, meaning to guide, align, or set straight.

Usage tips

  • Directive belongs to formal or institutional French, while consigne or instruction often sounds more natural for a specific workplace task.

Other meanings

  • guidelinenoun
  • ordernoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word