administrator

American  

[ad-min-uh-strey-ter] / ædˈmɪn əˌstreɪ tər /

noun

1. a person who manages or has a talent for managing.

2. Law. a person appointed by a court to take charge of the estate of a decedent, but not appointed in the decedent's will.

3. Computers. Also admin

   1. a person who manages and supports a computer system or network, as in a business or other organization.

      the company’s system administrator;

      a database administrator.

   2. a person who determines the site policies, appoints moderators, and manages the technical operation of an internet message board or other interactive website.

      a forum administrator.

   3. a user account on a home computer accessible only by the user who manages the computer system.

   4. a user who has access to this user account.

---

administrator British  

/ ədˈmɪnɪˌstreɪtə /

noun

1. a person who administers the affairs of an organization, official body, etc

2. property law a person authorized to manage an estate, esp when the owner has died intestate or without having appointed executors

3. a person who manages a computer system

---

Other Word Forms

• administratorship noun
• administratrix noun
• preadministrator noun
• subadministrator noun

Etymology

Origin of administrator

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French administratour, from Latin administrātor, equivalent to administrā(re) “to assist, serve” ( administer ) + -tor -tor

Explanation

The boss, the head honcho, the person in charge: An administrator is the person responsible for managing things and running the show. Administrators are often found directing government agencies, organizing institutions, or leading school departments. They're the decision makers and the planners, the people who put in place or administer the rules and guidelines. In other words, the administrator's office is probably the last place you want to end up if you're in trouble.

Example Sentences

Student-made memes depict the administrator behind the proposal as Gandalf from “Lord of the Rings” saying “You shall not pass!” or as Dolores Umbridge, the tyrannical Hogwarts headmistress from “Harry Potter.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Now Amit Kshatriya, the US space agency's associate administrator, said at a recent briefing that "the vehicle is ready, the system is ready. The crew is ready."

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Former Nasa administrator Sean O' Keefe told the BBC that the nations that land on the Moon will have the advantage of exploring and developing the resources that are there.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

“I think we can all agree, particularly today, that landing on the moon is extremely hard,” Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said at a press conference after Athena landed.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

“Are you having problems?” asked a school administrator, wearing his look-how-calm-I-am expression.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers

Related Words

• authority
• bureaucrat
• chief
• commander
• controller
• custodian
• dean
• director
• executive
• head
• inspector
• judge
• leader
• manager
• minister
• officer
• official
• organizer
• superintendent
• supervisor