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”; administrate, -ion

Example Sentences

Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration would exclude generic drugs from the pharmaceutical tariffs after months of internal debate—a detail confirmed by the announcement on Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

This is to remedy a pricing imbalance, a senior administration official told reporters on background.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

In a briefing for reporters, a senior administration official said big companies would have 120 days to work out agreements with the administration.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

He said the administration has done little to promote raw dairy as part of a revamped food policy that emphasizes meat and whole-fat milk as essential for a healthy diet.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

The administration was saying that the school would partially reopen in January.

From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau

Related Words

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