# directive

> English word · Adjective · IPA /daɪˈɹɛk.tɪv/ · frequency rank #11,020

## Definitions
1. That which directs; serving to direct, indicate, or guide.
2. Relating to the directive case.

## Etymology
From Middle French directif. The noun senses are from French directive (feminine form of the adjective).

## Easily confused with
- **directives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/directive-vs-directives)
- **direction** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/direction-vs-directive)
- **detective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detective-vs-directive)
- **defective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defective-vs-directive)
- **digestive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/digestive-vs-directive)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ddirective`, `dierctive`, `dircetive`, `direcctive`, `direcitve`, `directiev`, `directivve`, `directtive`, `directvie`, `diretcive`, `dirrective`, `driective`, `idrective`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/directive