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Synonyms

city manager

American  

noun

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


city manager British  

noun

  1. (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.

See Examples For:

A city manager in Oklahoma is accused of signing voter registration forms for 11 residents.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

Carlsbad also is tracking the upcoming storms and taking a proactive approach to maintaining its infrastructure in coastal areas, according to a statement from city manager Geoff Patnoe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

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

T. Michael Stavres, the city manager, suggested the possibility of introducing a fire fee to help pay for fire services—prompting commissioners to request he prepare a proposal for a study of the issue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

If you took a poll, few people in town could tell you who the mayor was, or the police chief, or the city manager.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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