director general

• director-general

A calque of French directeur général, hence the unusual order of adjective following noun.

director general (plural directors general or director generals or (rare) directors generals)

1. The highest executive officer within a governmental, statutory, NGO, third sector or not-for-profit institution. In reference to government, the executive officer below the minister of the department.

director general m (plural directori generali)

1. chief executive officer