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

---

Etymology

Origin of city manager

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

Eric Taylor, the city manager of Social Circle, Ga., said his town faces a similar predicament.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

“Because of how we acquired the site, I think we have a mandate to build,” said Town Manager Brad Raulston, who previously was city manager and oversaw housing in a San Diego suburb.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 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 points out.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 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

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

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson