auteur

noun

au·​teur ō-ˈtu̇r 

-ˈtər

1

: a film director whose practice accords with the auteur theory

broadly : director sense c

2

: an artist (such as a musician or writer) whose style and practice are distinctive

auteurist

ō-ˈtər-ist 

adjective or noun

Examples of auteur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After its creative and commercial success elevated auteur Mike White into the pantheon of prestige showrunners, Season 2 ventured further afield, both geographically (to Sicily) and away from its home base, with excursions across the Italian isle. —Alison Herman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025

All three wins could repeat at the Oscars: Best Actress Demi Moore, Makeup and Hair, and French auteur Coralie Fargeat for Original Screenplay (who is also nominated for the Best Director Oscar). —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 8 Feb. 2025

For them, Audiard was the worst Frenchman to hit Mexico since Napoleon III — an auteur who made an entire movie out of his imagined idea of their country, seemingly without consulting a single Mexican. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025

He’s always worked with incredible auteurs throughout his life as an actor. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, originator, author, from Old French autor, from Latin auctor — more at author

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing auteur

• auteur theory