Directive: meaning, definitions and examples

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directive

[dɪˈrɛktɪv ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in management

A directive is an official or authoritative instruction.

Synonyms

command, instruction, order.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
directive	Typically used in formal or official settings, where a higher authority is giving specific guidelines or policies that must be followed. The government issued a new directive on public health measures The CEO's directive requires all employees to adhere to the new safety protocols
instruction	Used when providing detailed steps or guidance on how to perform a specific task. Commonly found in educational, technical, or how-to contexts. Follow the instructions to assemble the furniture The teacher's instructions were clear and easy to follow
order	Occurs in both formal and everyday settings where someone with authority is demanding a specific action or outcome. Can have a negative connotation if used in an authoritative or commanding tone. The manager gave an order to complete the project by Friday The officer's order was to evacuate the building immediately
command	Often used in military contexts or situations involving authority where obedience is expected without question. It carries a strong and direct connotation. The captain gave a command to fire His strict command left no room for argument

Examples of usage

The CEO issued a directive to all employees to work from home.
The government issued a directive to ban single-use plastics.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in politics

A directive is a formal or official order from a higher authority.

Synonyms

decree, edict, order.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
directive	Used in official or bureaucratic contexts where instructions are issued with authority, often in organizations or governments. The CEO issued a directive to all employees to start working remotely. The new safety directives must be followed by all construction workers.
order	A general term for any command or instruction given by someone in authority. It can be used in various contexts, from everyday situations to formal settings. The sergeant gave an order to march forward. He was given a direct order to complete the project by the end of the week.
decree	Used for official orders that are publicly announced, often associated with law, government, or monarchies. The king issued a decree to celebrate a national holiday. A royal decree was announced to reform the tax system.
edict	Similar to decree, often used to describe authoritative proclamations, particularly those made by a sovereign or government. The emperor's edict declared the beginning of a new era. An edict was issued to enforce strict curfew regulations.

Examples of usage

The president issued a directive to increase security measures.
The directive from the prime minister was clear and decisive.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

in technology

A directive is a configuration setting that enables or disables specific features or functions.

Synonyms

instruction, parameter, setting.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
directive	A directive is often used when an authoritative command or specific order is given by someone in a position of power, such as a leader, manager, or government official. The CEO issued a new directive to increase productivity. The government released a directive to reduce carbon emissions.
instruction	Instruction is commonly used when providing detailed information on how to perform a particular task or activity. It is frequently found in educational, technical, or everyday situations. Please follow the instruction manual to assemble the furniture. The teacher gave the students instructions on how to complete the assignment.
setting	Setting is typically used to refer to the configuration of options within a system, device, or environment to control its behavior or appearance. It is common in technological and everyday contexts. Make sure to adjust the settings on your phone to optimize battery use. The default setting on the thermostat is 22 degrees Celsius.
parameter	Parameter is often used in scientific, mathematical, or technical contexts to refer to a variable or factor that defines a system and determines its behavior. The researchers adjusted the parameters to improve the accuracy of the experiment. To run this software, you need to configure the network parameters.

Examples of usage

The software update included a new directive to improve performance.
The directive in the code controlled the behavior of the application.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin word 'directivus', which means 'having the power to direct'.
In the 19th century, 'directive' started being used in the English language to refer to guiding orders.
It has roots in 'direct', which means to guide someone toward a goal.

Politics

Directives often relate to policy-making where governments or organizations provide specific guidelines on important issues.
In the European Union, a directive is a legislative act that sets out a goal that member states must achieve through their own national laws.
The effectiveness of directives can depend on how well they are communicated and followed by the implementing bodies.

Education

Teachers use directives in classrooms to give instructions, helping students know what is expected in their work.
Clear directives can enhance learning outcomes by reducing confusion about tasks.
In learning environments, directives help create structure and can motivate students to follow through on assignments.

Psychology

Research shows that clear directives can improve compliance and adherence among individuals in therapeutic settings.
When people receive directives that align with their personal goals, they are more likely to follow them.
Overly vague directives can lead to frustration or resistance, showing the importance of clarity in communication.

Technology

In computer programming, directives are instructions that tell a computer how to process data or code.
Web development often employs directives in frameworks like Angular to enhance functionality and interactivity.
Software applications may utilize directives to simplify complex commands, making them easier for users to execute.

Translations

Translations of the word "directive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 diretiva

ordem
instrução

🇮🇳 निर्देश

आदेश
अनुदेश

🇩🇪 Direktive

Anweisung
Vorschrift

🇮🇩 direktif

perintah
instruksi

🇺🇦 директива

наказ
інструкція

🇵🇱 dyrektywa

polecenie
instrukcja

🇯🇵 指令 (しれい)

命令 (めいれい)
指示 (しじ)

🇫🇷 directive

ordre
instruction

🇪🇸 directiva

orden
instrucción

🇹🇷 yönerge

emir
talimat

🇰🇷 지시 (指示)

명령 (命令)
지침 (指針)

🇸🇦 توجيه

أمر
تعليمات

🇨🇿 směrnice

příkaz
instrukce

🇸🇰 smernica

príkaz
inštrukcia

🇨🇳 指令 (zhǐlìng)

命令 (mìnglìng)
指示 (zhǐshì)

🇸🇮 direktiva

ukaz
navodilo

🇮🇸 tilskipun

fyrirmæli
leiðbeiningar

🇰🇿 нұсқаулық

бұйрық
нұсқау

🇬🇪 დირექტივა

ბრძანება
ინსტრუქცია

🇦🇿 direktiv

əmr
təlimat

🇲🇽 directiva

orden
instrucción

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,475 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

...
8472 executing
8473 recovering
8474 successively
8475 directive
8476 frowned
8477 diminishing
8478 abrupt
...