What does directorial mean?
"Directorial" is an adjective used chiefly in the worlds of film, theatre, and television to describe anything connected with the work of a director — the person responsible for shaping a production artistically. It appears most often in set phrases such as "directorial debut," marking an actor's or writer's first attempt at directing, and "directorial style" or "directorial vision," which critics use to characterise a director's distinctive creative signature. A review might praise a film's assured directorial hand or criticise its heavy-handed directorial choices. Less commonly, the word can refer to a board of directors in a corporate context, though this sense is far rarer. Neutral in tone and almost always placed before the noun it modifies, "directorial" is indispensable vocabulary for anyone reading film criticism, entertainment journalism, or theatre commentary.
Of or relating to the direction or the director of a film, play, or other production.
"Critics praised the film's subtle directorial touches."
Typically used attributively; common collocations include "directorial debut" and "directorial style."
Of or relating to a board of directors.
"The matter was referred to the directorial committee."
Much less common than the performing-arts sense.
Every famous 'auteur' — from Hitchcock to Kubrick — owes their reputation to the word that describes their craft: directorial.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of directorial
"Directorial" derives from "director," which comes via French from the Latin "dirigere" (past participle "directus"), meaning "to arrange, guide, or straighten." The combining form "-ial" forms adjectives meaning "relating to." English also retains the older sense linking the word to Latin "director," one who guides or governs. Cognates include French "directorial" and related Romance forms built on the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How directorial is actually used
Almost always used attributively (before a noun), as in "directorial debut" or "directorial vision." The word carries a neutral, professional register and is common in film criticism, theatre reviews, and entertainment journalism. The business sense relating to boards of directors is much rarer than the performing-arts sense.
Easily confused with directorial
"Directory" is a noun meaning a listing or index (such as a phone directory), whereas "directorial" is an adjective concerning a director's role.