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

Lee’s hyper-realistic habits of capturing New York life in its realest form is what makes the auteur a true preserver of Brooklyn culture. —Malik Peay, Essence, 19 Aug. 2025

Indeed, the response to Coppola’s cross-country tour came off less like the beginnings of an underground fan base, and more like a film community tolerating an auteur’s exhaustive defense of his work. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2025

After The Movie Critic was teased as Tarantino’s farewell film in 2023, with Brad Pitt attached to star, Deadline exclusively reported last April that the auteur simply had a change of heart and opted not to move forward with the project. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2025

In the movies, zombies are impervious to knives, guns, katanas, spiked baseball bats and most other weapons an inventive auteur can think up. —Jason Rose, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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

Rhymes for auteur

• amour
• grandeur
• hauteur
• velour
• verdure
• voyeur
• doer
• poor
• poore
• raconteur