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 (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

“When you get into management, you’re trying to win tomorrow but at the same time you’ve got a plan for next season and sometimes two, three years ahead.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Indio is listed as one of the potentially impacted areas, although the local air quality management district said levels of polluting particles were measured as good to moderate since noon on Thursday.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

“He seems to have been called by every honorary title imaginable,” noted one biographer—“the country’s leading novelist, philosopher, educator, designer, agricultural experimenter, architect, industrial management specialist, general and ping pong trainer.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Forty years ago in February, Jackson wriggled free of her father Joe Jackson’s stifling management with the release of “Control.”

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

“In Japan it is not customary for management to own stock,” he said at length.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

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