manager
Americannoun
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managers
plural
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a person who has control or direction of an institution, business, etc., or of a part, division, or phase of it.
- Synonyms:
- boss, supervisor, superintendent, executive, administrator
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a person who manages.
the manager of our track team.
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a person who controls and manipulates resources and expenditures, as of a household.
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British. (formerly) a theatrical producer.
noun
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a person who directs or manages an organization, industry, shop, etc
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a person who controls the business affairs of an actor, entertainer, etc
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a person who controls the training of a sportsman or team
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a person who has a talent for managing efficiently
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law a person appointed by a court to carry on a business during receivership
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(in Britain) a member of either House of Parliament appointed to arrange a matter in which both Houses are concerned
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a computer program that organizes a resource, such as a set of files or a database
Usage
What does manager mean? Manager most commonly refers to a person who supervises employees in a company or other organization. Managers are typically somewhere in the middle level of an organization—the term most commonly refers to a person who is a boss but also has a boss. Manager is the noun form of the verb manage, which has many meanings but commonly means to be in charge of or supervise employees. Example: After six years, I’ve finally been promoted to the position of manager.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of manager
Explanation
It makes sense that a manager is someone who "manages," or takes charge of something. A baseball team manager is in charge of running the team, while a business manager oversees finances, scheduling, and the everyday operation of the business. The probable origin of the word manager comes from the Latin manus, meaning "hand." A good manager provides the necessary "hand," guiding others. The Italian maneggiare means "to control," and was especially used with reference to training horses, a job for which certain managers you've worked for might be better suited. The word extends beyond human beings as well: the file manager on your computer is a program designed to organize data.
Vocabulary lists containing manager
Like A Boss: Words for the Person in Charge
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Because of Winn-Dixie
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Words for the World Series
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Roberts said he wanted to have clarity after the game Saturday, so he could notify Tigers manager A.J.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
It’s annoying that she is blaming her inability to complete tasks on you, but it sounds like your co-workers and boss know you’re a communicative manager.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
Manchester City continued their winning Premier League start under manager Enzo Maresca with victory at Crystal Palace.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
In 2020 Silver Heights hired Italian wine manager Marco Milani as its new chief executive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Up in the control room, the station manager and the assistant manager stood together as the birds approached.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
Rebecca Gray of the NHS Alliance said managers were "caught between a rock and a hard place".
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Sometimes the managers who have your back, more than the ones who are fun to hang out with, are the coolest bosses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Bloomberg reported last week that Citi had been added to the roster of lead managers on the float, beside JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
The NHS Alliance, which represents health managers, says the current system represents a "bad deal" for patients and taxpayers alike.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
The London Eye managers have fixed a camera into position, so that a good shot of everyone is possible against a backdrop of Big Ben.
From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
