board of directors

IPA/bˈɔːd ɒv daɪɹˈɛktəz/
IPA/bˈɔːɹd ʌv dᵻɹˈɛktɚz/

board of directors — noun

1. the team of people that a business or organization puts in charge of making its

1.nounB2
Definition

the team of people that a business or organization puts in charge of making its most important decisions

Example

The board of directors met late into the night to vote on the merger.

board of directors met to vote on [major decision]

Aylin was asked to join the board of directors after ten years with the charity.

Common collocations
  • join the board of directors
  • sit on the board of directors
  • step down from the board of directors
  • board of directors meeting
Synonyms
  • governing board

    broader term covering any oversight body, not only companies

  • board

    informal shortening used when the context is clear

  • executive committee

    a smaller subgroup that handles urgent matters between full board meetings

Common Mistakes

The board of directors handles the daily operations of the company.
The management team handles daily operations; the board of directors sets long-term strategy.
The board governs and oversees; it does not manage day-to-day work.

2. in a corporation, the group of people that shareholders vote into office to supe

2.nounB2
Definition

in a corporation, the group of people that shareholders vote into office to supervise how the business is run and to choose its top managers

Example

The shareholders voted to replace three members of the board of directors.

shareholders voted to replace [members] of the board of directors

Ramón was elected to the board of directors at the company's annual general meeting.

Common collocations
  • elect to the board of directors
  • board of directors approves
  • board of directors appoints
  • chair of the board of directors
Synonyms
  • supervisory board

    used in European two-tier corporate systems, separate from the management board

  • board of governors

    more common in non-profit, academic, or public-sector contexts

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (COMPANY LEADERS): this refers specifically to the formal corporate governance body elected by shareholders, not a general organizational board.

Common Mistakes

The CEO chooses who sits on the board of directors.
Shareholders elect the board of directors; the board then appoints the CEO.
In a corporation, shareholders elect the board, not the other way around.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A board of directors has legal authority to make binding decisions for a company or organization, and its members can be held accountable for those decisions. A governing board is a broader term covering any group with oversight power, including boards of directors, school boards, and regulatory bodies. A board of trustees is typical of non-profits, universities, and charitable trusts; its members have a fiduciary duty to protect the organization's assets rather than to maximize profits. An executive committee is a smaller subgroup drawn from a board that handles urgent matters between full board meetings — it acts with the board's delegated authority. An advisory board, by contrast, offers guidance and expertise but has no formal decision-making power; it cannot bind the organization or override management. For example, a tech startup might have an advisory board of industry experts who suggest strategy but do not vote on budgets.

governing boardboard of trusteesexecutive committeeadvisory board

Common collocations

Nouns

  • board of directors meeting
  • member of the board of directors
  • chair of the board of directors

Phrases

  • serve on the board of directors
  • appoint someone to the board of directors
  • elect someone to the board of directors

Prepositions

  • on the board of directors
  • to the board of directors

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinAnglo-Norman FrenchEnglish

The term comes from the custom of a group sitting around a board (a table) to conduct official business. 'Board' traces back to Old English bord ('plank, table'), while 'director' comes from Latin dirigere ('to guide, set straight') via Anglo-Norman French. The modern board of directors emerged with the growth of joint-stock companies in 17th-century Europe, when investors needed a trusted group to oversee their shared enterprise.