Synonyms

city manager

American

noun

a person not publicly elected but appointed by a city council to manage a city.

city manager British

noun

(in the US) an administrator hired by a municipal council to manage its affairs See also council-manager plan

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of city manager

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

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.

In Social Circle, Georgia, the city manager shut off water to a warehouse ICE had purchased amid concerns about strains on local resources.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026

At the time, the city manager warned CoreCivic “that the building is unsafe and violates the fire code because its construction prevents radio signals from transmitting from key areas,” the lawsuit pointed out.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

The Miami Police Department reports to the city manager, creating professional continuity across political cycles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Higgins, a county commissioner, defeated former city manager Emilio González by roughly 59 percent to 41 percent, according to preliminary results.

From Salon • Dec. 10, 2025

According to the city manager, police operations were "crippled” and "paralyzed.”

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023