manager
Americannoun
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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:
They include the general manager of Autostrade at the time, Giovanni Castellucci, the former head of Spea, Antonino Galata, and officials of the infrastructure ministry.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
His longevity as manager is also rare in the current era - having led the national team for 14 years.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
To use a Dodgers example, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was selected for this year’s All-Star Game, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last week that he would not pitch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Alcoa said its participation in the joint venture, including serving as construction and operating manager, isn’t expected to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
In 1997, Lewyn discovered a published diary, kept by a factory manager who oversaw Trawniki inmates as they sewed coats, hats, and shoes for the German army.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Lilly’s launch was also slowed by the time it took to secure reimbursement coverage from major pharmacy-benefit managers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Similarly, truly talented superstar managers could grab a bigger slice of available returns on investments because they’re better than their peers, but their track records will cost you.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
That conflict provoked a sharp contraction in the manufacturing economy, with the Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing managers index falling to 49.1 by mid-2019.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Last week saw widespread protests at Volkswagen sites across the country, ahead of a meeting of VW's supervisory board, which includes labour representatives as well as company managers.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
He informed him of the complaints he had received from the labor as well as from the other assistant managers.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
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.
