administration

American  

[ad-min-uh-strey-shuhn] / ædˌmɪn əˈstreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the management of any office, business, or organization; direction.

2. the function of a political state in exercising its governmental duties.

3. the duty or duties of an administrator in exercising the executive functions of the position.

4. the management by an administrator of such duties.

5. a body of administrators, especially in government.

6. Often Administration the executive branch of the U.S. government during a particular president's term of office: The current administration has threatened to veto the new bill.

   The Reagan administration followed President Carter's.

   The current administration has threatened to veto the new bill.

7. the period of service of a governmental administrator or body of governmental administrators.

8. any group entrusted with executive or administrative powers.

   the administration of a college.

9. Law. management of a decedent's estate by an executor or administrator or of a trust estate by a trustee.

10. an act of dispensing, especially formally.

    administration of the sacraments.

11. supervision of the taking of an oath or the like.

12. application, as of a salve or medicine.

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administration British  

/ ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən /

noun

1. management of the affairs of an organization, such as a business or institution

2. the duties of an administrator

3. the body of people who administer an organization

4. the conduct of the affairs of government

5. term of office: often used of presidents, governments, etc

6. the executive branch of government along with the public service; the government as a whole

7. (often capital) the political executive, esp of the US; the government

8. a government board, agency, authority, etc

9. property law

   1. the conduct or disposal of the estate of a deceased person

   2. the management by a trustee of an estate subject to a trust

10. 1. the administering of something, such as a sacrament, oath, or medical treatment

    2. the thing that is administered

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Other Word Forms

• administrational
  adjective
• administrative
  adjective
• administratively
  adverb
• antiadministration
  noun
• misadministration
  noun
• preadministration
  noun
• proadministration
  adjective
• self-administration
  noun
• subadministration
  noun
• superadministration
  noun

Etymology

Origin of administration

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English administracio(u)n, from Latin administrātiōn- (stem of administrātiō ) “service”; see administrate, -ion

Explanation

Use the word administration to describe the group of people running an organization: “University administration declared Wednesday a snow day and sent everyone home early.” You’ve probably heard the noun administration used to describe a political group, such as the Bush administration or the Obama administration. It can also be used to refer to the daily activities involved in running a group or a program: “Carla handles the administration of the summer camp.”

Example Sentences

Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday filed a proposed settlement in the case, which began after it sued Musk in the waning days of the Biden administration.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

The EU is finalizing legislation to lower tariffs on U.S. goods, informing the U.S. administration of its progress.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

In a new biography of Reid, journalist and legendary Nevada-knower Jon Ralston provides an inside account of how Reid and his team held Senate Democrats together and took on the Bush administration.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

Wednesday entered administration in October last year and will start life in League One next year, after being relegated from the Championship, with a 15-point deduction.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

From the early days of his administration, Kennedy leaned hard on America's spies.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• board
• bureau
• cabinet
• committee
• department
• executive
• legislature
• management
• ministry
• presidency