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.

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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

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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

Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator at Nasa, was full of praise for the astronauts.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

The account’s administrator said a security researcher first disclosed the breach in a post that had been taken down by Tuesday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

“These updates keep coverage affordable and ensure patients get real value from their plans,” said Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 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

Now retired, he worked both as an administrator and a counselor for at-risk boys.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Related Words

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