front office

noun

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

Other Words From

• front-office adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of front office¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

It makes for a riveting NFL culture war, with coaches, front offices and ownership so accustomed to hoarding control and signal callers being satisfied with selling whatever product they are given.

From Washington Post

Keene, who has worked as a cheerleader or in the team’s front office since 2003, did not respond to requests for comment.

From Washington Post

The Washington Football Team coach and the two men he hired to run the front office have found they have similar philosophies about building teams, finding players and reaching consensus.

From Washington Post

Washington shifted to a coach-centric front office when it hired Rivera last year, giving him control of the football operations.

From Washington Post

His vision, he said at the time, was to create a collaborative front office, where he works closely with the head of personnel and other executives on major decisions.

From Washington Post

Hitchcock glances at it and says, “Let's send it on up to the front office.”

From The Daily Beast

Everyone—staff, stars, rookies, front office, back office—has to be in top form, at the top of their game.

From The Daily Beast

Nolen proceeded directly from human resources to the front office.

From The Daily Beast

After her pitch, Tara will most likely head “to a cat carrier in the front office.”

From The Daily Beast

Several NFL players, front office staff, and commentators have said that Sam could be a distraction to his team.

From The Daily Beast

Without further interruption, we reached the front office, where we found the clerk and the man in velveteen with the fur cap.

From Project Gutenberg

The vision came to him of a pompous old man in prison gray, strutting about the front office with silk socks and a Havana cigar.

From Project Gutenberg

Dicky Gossip—a Portuguese clerk commonly so called—rushed forthwith to the front office, and returned with equal rapidity.

From Project Gutenberg

To make sure, punch the clock in the front office each time you pass.

From Project Gutenberg

The old lawyer's lank figure had hardly disappeared out of the front office when Peckham rang for Caput Magnus.

From Project Gutenberg