ex-directory

1 8.8

A phone number not listed in the public phone book to protect privacy

adjective
/ɛks dɪˈrɛktəri/

: no publicado

My phone number is ex-directory.

Examples

Many celebrities choose ex-directory numbers to avoid unwanted calls.
She prefers to have her number ex-directory to maintain her privacy.
He gave me his ex-directory contact information after the interview.
She prefers to keep her number ex-directory.
She requested to keep her new phone number ex-directory to avoid unwanted calls.
Because his number is ex-directory, I couldn't find it in any public listings.
She chose to have her phone number ex-directory for privacy reasons.

Synonyms

unlisted

vsex-directory

19 4.4

Not included in a public list like a phone book to keep it private

refers specifically to telephone numbers, often omitted at the subscriber's request

Antonyms

listed

37 2.3

Included on an official record for companies or people

Surface Forms

ex-directory positive

Morphology

ex-directory = directory (semi-transparent) = ex + directory

The prefix 'ex-' here indicates exclusion or removal from the directory, but its meaning is less familiar to learners (who more often know 'ex-' as 'former'), so the relation is not fully obvious.

Etymology

Ex-directory comes from the parts ex- meaning 'out of' and directory meaning 'a list' or 'phone book'. A helpful way to remember it is that an ex-directory number is kept 'out of the phone book', so it is not listed and stays private.