management

American  

[man-ij-muhnt] / ˈmæn ɪdʒ mənt /

noun

1. the act or manner of managing; handling, direction, or control.

   Synonyms:

   treatment, guidance, conduct, charge, care, administration, regulation

2. skill in managing; executive ability.

   great management and tact.

3. the person or persons controlling and directing the affairs of a business, institution, etc..

   The store is under new management.

4. executives collectively, considered as a class (distinguished from labor).

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management British  

/ ˈmænɪdʒmənt /

noun

1. the members of the executive or administration of an organization or business See also line management middle management top management

2. managers or employers collectively

3. the technique, practice, or science of managing, controlling or dealing with

   anger management

4. the skilful or resourceful use of materials, time, etc

5. the specific treatment of a disease, disorder, etc

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management Cultural  

1. The body of individuals who run major businesses, usually without owning them but often with the reward of stock options.

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Other Word Forms

• antimanagement
  adjective
• managemental
  adjective
• nonmanagement
  noun
• promanagement
  adjective
• self-management
  noun

Etymology

Origin of management

First recorded in 1590–1600; manage + -ment

Explanation

The noun management means "the act of directing or controlling things," like your management of five-year-olds that included fun time, quiet time, and clean-up time. Management can be the people in charge of running a business, who have employees who report to them, or the work those leaders do. Good management is a combination of people skills, shrewd business plans, and probably a little luck, too. Outside of business, management can describe anything you direct, like the management of your health by eating right, exercising, seeing your doctor regularly, and getting enough sleep.

Example Sentences

The third-largest HOA and condo management company is RealManage, backed since 2022 by private-equity firm American Securities.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

To address the glaring discrepancy, the league established the “Rooney rule” in 2003, requiring teams to interview at least two minority candidates for head coach and other senior management vacancies.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Each stock also has to have at least a 3.5% dividend yield, so management has room to cut, given that the S&P 500’s yield is down to 1%.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

"This will be the future of automotive production," says Michael Nikolaides, head of process management and digitalisation at BMW.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

‘Darling, you remember I’m at the management conference this weekend?’

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Related Words

• administration
• care
• control
• governance
• government
• handling
• operation
• oversight
• supervision