From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishex-directoryˌex-diˈrectory adjective British English TCTa person or telephone number that is ex-directory is not in the public telephone book SYN unlisted American English The number is ex-directory. After several threatening calls, we decided to go ex-directory.
Examples from the Corpus
ex-directory• Hopefully, he looked first for Rose Hilaire in the telephone book; no such name, so she must be ex-directory.• It's a well-known fact that in Knutsford the Fire-Brigade is ex-directory.• Luce tore it open and read: When I tried to ring you I was told that the Diomede number is ex-directory.• Through telephone enquiries he discovered that there were plenty of Carrows and Tremaynes in the county and not a few who were ex-directory.• Repeatedly she found he had rung the private, ex-directory line at Camilla's home Middlewich House.• Better still, if you live alone, have an ex-directory number.• The main focus will be on ex-directory numbers, which mean that published directories are incomplete as listings of telephone-owning households.• They are constantly changing their numbers, or going ex-directory to stave off threatening calls.go ex-directory• They are constantly changing their numbers, or going ex-directory to stave off threatening calls.From Longman Business Dictionaryex-directoryˌex-diˈrectory adjective British English an ex-directory telephone number is deliberately not given in a public telephone bookSYNunlisted AmEYou can change your number and go ex-directory (=no longer have your number in the phone book). 