manager

American  

[man-i-jer] / ˈmæn ɪ dʒər /

noun

1. a person who has control or direction of an institution, business, etc., or of a part, division, or phase of it.

   Synonyms:

   boss, supervisor, superintendent, executive, administrator

2. a person who manages.

   the manager of our track team.

3. a person who controls and manipulates resources and expenditures, as of a household.

4. British. (formerly) a theatrical producer.

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manager British  

/ ˈmænɪdʒə /

noun

1. a person who directs or manages an organization, industry, shop, etc

2. a person who controls the business affairs of an actor, entertainer, etc

3. a person who controls the training of a sportsman or team

4. a person who has a talent for managing efficiently

5. law a person appointed by a court to carry on a business during receivership

6. (in Britain) a member of either House of Parliament appointed to arrange a matter in which both Houses are concerned

7. a computer program that organizes a resource, such as a set of files or a database

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Usage

What does manager mean? Manager most commonly refers to a person who supervises employees in a company or other organization. Managers are typically somewhere in the middle level of an organization—the term most commonly refers to a person who is a boss but also has a boss. Manager is the noun form of the verb manage, which has many meanings but commonly means to be in charge of or supervise employees. Example: After six years, I’ve finally been promoted to the position of manager.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• submanager
  noun
• undermanager
  noun
• managership
  noun
• submanagership
  noun

Etymology

Origin of manager

First recorded in 1580–90; manage + -er ¹

Explanation

It makes sense that a manager is someone who "manages," or takes charge of something. A baseball team manager is in charge of running the team, while a business manager oversees finances, scheduling, and the everyday operation of the business. The probable origin of the word manager comes from the Latin manus, meaning "hand." A good manager provides the necessary "hand," guiding others. The Italian maneggiare means "to control," and was especially used with reference to training horses, a job for which certain managers you've worked for might be better suited. The word extends beyond human beings as well: the file manager on your computer is a program designed to organize data.

Example Sentences

City Manager Reginald Goodson, who wasn’t in the role at the time, wrote to the state auditor that work gatherings, such as team dinners, are commonly paid for “if considered reasonable and appropriate.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Mammoth Resorts Communications Manager Emily van Greuning said the resort had received 1 to 3 inches of snowfall since Tuesday night, with more snow expected Thursday and potentially throughout the week.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

“For me, the most important data point was the purge External link of the highest levels of China’s military a couple months ago,” said Arjun Jayaraman, Quantitative Portfolio Manager at Causeway Capital Management.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

The campaign group said high levels of salt were not inevitable, comparing a Pret A Manager chicken sandwich that contained 2.22g of salt with a similar one from Greggs that had only 1.1g.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Some years later in Lagos, after Chief told him to find a white man whom he could present as his General Manager, Obinze called Nigel.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• administrator
• boss
• controller
• director
• executive
• officer
• official
• organizer
• producer
• superintendent
• supervisor