front office

American  

noun

front offices plural

1. the executive or administrative office of a company, organization, etc.

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front office Idioms  

1. The policy-making or executive individuals in an organization, as in I'll have to check with the front office before I can give you a discount. This term was originally underworld slang for police headquarters or the main detective bureau. It soon was extended to other administrative offices and their personnel. [c. 1900]

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• front-office
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• front offices
  plural

Etymology

Origin of front office

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Freese, a Harvard economics graduate and “data geek,” contacted Daryl Morey in 2021 about working in a front office.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

A renovated front office led by Leon Rose smartly assembled a roster around his style and temperament, even grabbing a few of Brunson’s favorite Villanova teammates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

The front office, led by president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, will hire another assistant general manager focused on scouting and player development.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

In the first offseason under Mark Walter’s ownership, the Lakers will undergo several changes in their front office and with the organization’s infrastructure while trying to keep pace in the ever-evolving NBA.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Father bathes in the private office and Mother in the kitchen behind a fire screen, while Margot and I have declared the front office to be our bathing grounds.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank