administrator
Americannoun
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a person who manages or has a talent for managing.
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Law. a person appointed by a court to take charge of the estate of a decedent, but not appointed in the decedent's will.
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Computers. Also admin
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a person who manages and supports a computer system or network, as in a business or other organization.
the company’s system administrator;
a database administrator.
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a person who determines the site policies, appoints moderators, and manages the technical operation of an internet message board or other interactive website.
a forum administrator.
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a user account on a home computer accessible only by the user who manages the computer system.
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a user who has access to this user account.
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noun
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a person who administers the affairs of an organization, official body, etc
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property law a person authorized to manage an estate, esp when the owner has died intestate or without having appointed executors
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a person who manages a computer system
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of administrator
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French administratour, from Latin administrātor, equivalent to administrā(re) “to assist, serve” ( see administer) + -tor -tor
Explanation
The boss, the head honcho, the person in charge: An administrator is the person responsible for managing things and running the show. Administrators are often found directing government agencies, organizing institutions, or leading school departments. They're the decision makers and the planners, the people who put in place or administer the rules and guidelines. In other words, the administrator's office is probably the last place you want to end up if you're in trouble.
Vocabulary lists containing administrator
Like A Boss: Words for the Person in Charge
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The Executive Branch: The Presidency and Vice Presidency
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The Parker Inheritance
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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:
From that point forward, only a court-appointed executor or administrator has the authority to act for the estate.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
The judge responded by placing a temporary administrator in charge of the estate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
A court decided that 50% should go to Boseman's widow, who was also appointed the estate's administrator, with 25% to each of his parents.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The executor or administrator of your mother’s estate must present court-ordered letters testamentary or letters of administration to access your mother’s accounts.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
So I used my admin ID to create a new “test account,” then gave that account superuser access and full administrator privileges.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
The EFTC’s supporters are correct that schools’ variable expenses — which is primarily the cost of educators and administrators — can be adjusted downward.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
The suit said Morales’ alleged actions were reported to then-interim Chancellor Jolene Koester, who “did absolutely nothing,” and that the university allegedly retaliated against the administrators for raising concerns about Morales and the former dean.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
They shared findings with administrators, who will decide how to implement them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
They deserve administrators who take seriously their obligation to spend public money carefully and lawfully.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Teachers and administrators have an obligation to make dignity for everybody—not just the popular and the conventional—an urgent educational concern, in the same way they’ve taken on racism and other forms of bigotry.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
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.
