front office

American  

noun

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

• front-office adjective

Etymology

Origin of front office

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The bonus was that it gave the team’s front office flexibility to spend big elsewhere.

From The Wall Street Journal

The San Diego Padres picked a former relief pitcher who began on the other side of the hiring process as a member of the front office, only to become a candidate for the job himself.

From The Wall Street Journal

Clinics embedded e‑prescribing and patient portals, reshaping front‑office and clinical handoffs.

From The Wall Street Journal

In an offseason of wide possibilities, but thus far tempered expectations from the Dodgers’ front office, Cody Bellinger represents something of a wild card in the team’s winter plans.

From Los Angeles Times

The Lakers began making changes in their front office when they fired Joey and Jesse Buss as well as some scouts on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times