city manager

American  

noun

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

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city manager British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of city manager

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

city manager

Ben Martinez, Calexico’s city manager, said his city continues to work with state officials on the plans and “remains fully committed to achieving compliance with California Housing Element law.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

Lopez, the city manager, said the four targeted officials are still fulfilling their duties, despite the verbal attacks from Facebook and elsewhere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

“This is definitely a loss for the community,” said Stone James, the Twentynine Palms city manager.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

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

Maybe Siobhan would have become the first black city manager, not her grandmother.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson