Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

coordinator

American  
[koh-awr-dn-ay-ter] / koʊˈɔr dnˌeɪ tər /
Or co-ordinator

noun

  • coordinators
    plural
  1. a person or thing that coordinates.

  2. Grammar. a coordinating conjunction.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of coordinator

First recorded in 1860–65; coordinate + -or 2


Explanation

A coordinator makes sure things go smoothly: he or she coordinates other people and activities. Football is one area where the word coordinator comes up a lot. The offensive coordinator makes sure the quarterback, running backs, receivers, and offensive line are working together to score points. The defensive coordinator makes sure the linebackers, safeties, defensive backs, and defensive line are working together to stop the other team from scoring. In any kind of business or organization, a coordinator makes sure people (or machines and products) are working together toward their goals. Anything complicated could benefit from a coordinator.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing coordinator

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:

Said special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone: “It ultimately comes down to reverting back to your fundamentals and your techniques that enable you to be able to protect, block, tackle, all of those things.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

New offensive coordinator Kade Bell wanted Dieffenbach to make another position switch, this time from quarterback to tight end.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

For its part, the Louvre created a new security coordinator position now held by Olivier Goupil, a veteran police officer known for modernizing the Paris Transport Authority’s security command center.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Lisa Sabatine, 67, was involved with Platner’s campaign from the outset as a volunteer coordinator and is now organizing and canvassing with another group, People Power Maine.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

And anyway, if Maya-Jade could call herself the activities coordinator, why couldn’t he call himself the social coordinator?

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

They are now looking to reserve reliable vehicles and security coordinators so they can move staff out by road to neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates if airports shut down, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

For pilots, technical staff and operational coordinators alike, this summer will go down in the record books.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

There have been some concerns this will place more pressure on school principals and teachers who are SEN coordinators in schools.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

According to Talbot, intimacy coordinators have three jobs: to advocate, to coordinate and to choreograph.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

One of the event’s coordinators let her know that “her greatest fan,” a fellow attendee, wanted to meet her.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training