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directory

directory

50 3.0
A book or online list of names and addresses of people and organizations
  • noun
  • /dɪˈrɛktəri/
translation icon : directorio
  • I was able to locate the phone number I needed in the local business directory.
  • a telephone directory
  • an online directory
  • a business directory

So, you know, I, I went and I found the corporate directory because there was no e-mail.

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Examples

  • Well, how about the church directory?

  • When the new telephone directory came out after the war, I even looked you up in it.

  • Asking a school official for a student directory is one example of lead generation.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Look it up in the company directory.

  • I looked your address up in the faculty directory.

  • If you have access to a telephone directory, they should all be listed in there, though.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The sample was drawn from a United Way directory of nonprofits serving a large urban county.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Natalie needed access to some type of school telephone directory so she could call the students in their classrooms.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Joe's number wasn't in the phonebook, but Directory Assistance had him listed.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • You can find the contact details of all employees in the directory at the front desk.

Synonyms

list
vsdirectory
1.0

An ordered set of names or things for reference

focuses on alphabetical names and addresses, not just any ordered items
listing
vsdirectory
134 2.3

A printed or online list of items for people to look at

specifically gives alphabetical names and addresses rather than any ordered items
phone book
vsdirectory
  • Archaic
60 1.0

A book with people's names, addresses, and numbers to call listed alphabetically

is used for general name and address records beyond subscriber entries
yellow pages
vsdirectory
  • Archaic
10 1.8

A book of local businesses and services printed on yellow paper

is alphabetical and arranges names and addresses rather than grouping by category
phonebook
vsdirectory
8 1.0

A book or list of people and businesses with their phone numbers

is broader and can omit telephone numbers while covering names and addresses
telephone book
vsdirectory
  • Archaic
5 1.0

A book that lists names, addresses and phone numbers of people and businesses

focuses on names and addresses and may omit telephone numbers
telephone directory
vsdirectory
3 2.0

A book or website with a list of names in order and phone numbers

also covers names and addresses and is not limited to subscribers
white pages
vsdirectory
  • Archaic
3 2.7

A printed list of people's names and home phone numbers in alphabetical order

includes names and addresses for people and organizations, not only residential entries

Compounds

A book or website with a list of names in order and phone numbers

How Comprehensive

database
  • Specialized
402 3.4
registry
  • Formal
100 4.2
directory
50 3.0
list
1.0
index
39 2.7

Surface Forms

directory singular
directories plural

Morphology

directory = direct (semi-transparent) = direct + ory

The noun is formed from 'direct' + '-ory' but the conventionalized meaning 'a list of names/addresses' is a specialized sense not fully predictable from 'direct' alone.

Etymology

Directory comes from the same root as direct, which means 'to guide' or 'to point'. A directory is a list that 'guides' you to people's names and addresses, so the origin explains why we call a phone or company list a directory.