administrator
Americannoun
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administrators
plural
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a person who manages or has a talent for managing.
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Law. a person appointed by a court to take charge of the estate of a decedent, but not appointed in the decedent's will.
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Computers. Also admin
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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.
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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.
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a user account on a home computer accessible only by the user who manages the computer system.
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a user who has access to this user account.
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noun
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a person who administers the affairs of an organization, official body, etc
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property law a person authorized to manage an estate, esp when the owner has died intestate or without having appointed executors
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a person who manages a computer system
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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” ( see 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.
Vocabulary lists containing administrator
Like A Boss: Words for the Person in Charge
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The Executive Branch: The Presidency and Vice Presidency
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The Parker Inheritance
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“This gives me the quantum of solace to step back and sit more peacefully with the situation,” says Bernstein, a higher-education administrator in Chicago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
"I'm here because I believe in democracy. Because I'm scared," said Alice Carneiro, 25, an administrator in maritime shipping, crying as she expressed fears about a possible backlash against her wife, who is transgender.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Kathryn Boor, who has worked with Kotlikoff as both an administrator and a professor, said he was the right man for the moment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
The city’s zoning administrator is now weighing whether to revoke the operator’s permit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
And the distinguished British scientific administrator Walter Fletcher warned an American audience that commercial prospects were certain to exercise “a vicious influence” over academic standards.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
The administrators, PwC, said the majority of NCP's 145 sites would now transfer to the Martin Group along with the staff who work there.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Justice Goodwin Liu’s concurring opinion in that case urged local election administrators to be prepared to seek a court order blocking any attempted seizure.
From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026
Here are some of the ethical questions administrators, coaches, parents and players now face:
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Speakers repeatedly attacked the college administrators for their handling of the case that has garnered nationwide attention.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
Schools set up across Egypt trained the leaders and administrators of the future.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
