administrator

noun

ad·​min·​is·​tra·​tor əd-ˈmi-nə-ˌstrā-tər How to pronounce administrator (audio)
-ˌstrā-ˌtȯr
1
: a person legally vested with the right of administration of an estate
2
a
: one who administers especially business, school, or governmental affairs
b
: a person who manages a computer network or system
network administrators
3
: a priest appointed to administer a diocese or parish temporarily

Examples of administrator in a Sentence

Her eldest son will act as the administrator of the estate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the same time, with fewer experienced administrators on staff, industry influence over regulatory decisions will likely only grow stronger. Simon F. Haeder, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025 For example, Joel Montalbano, the space agency’s deputy associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate, addressed the matter after Williams and Wilmore splashed down off the coast of Florida. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025 Related Articles Maryland administrators anticipate Kevin Willard taking Villanova job Kevin Willard timeline: Maryland coach leaves for Villanova People around the program, from administrators to top boosters, thought Willard was happy heading into the NCAA Tournament. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025 Billionaire Jared Isaacman was nominated for administrator, but no confirmation hearing has been put on the Senate calendar yet. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for administrator

Word History

Etymology

Middle English administratour, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin administātor "person in charge, manager," from administrāre "to administer" + -tor, agent suffix

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of administrator was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Administrator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/administrator. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

administrator

noun
ad·​min·​is·​tra·​tor əd-ˈmin-ə-ˌstrāt-ər How to pronounce administrator (audio)
: a person who administers especially business, school, or government affairs

Legal Definition

administrator

noun
ad·​min·​i·​stra·​tor əd-ˈmi-nə-ˌstrā-tər How to pronounce administrator (audio)
1
: a person appointed by a probate court to manage the distribution of the assets in the estate of a person who has died without leaving a valid will or leaving a will that does not name an executor able or willing to perform see also administratrix, letters of administration at letter sense 2 compare executor, personal representative
administrator ad litem
: an administrator appointed to represent an estate that is a necessary party to a lawsuit
administrator cum testamento annexo
: administrator with the will annexed in this entry
administrator de bonis non \ -​dē-​ˈbō-​nis-​ˈnän, -​dā-​ˈbō-​nis-​ˈnōn \
: an administrator appointed to administer the remaining assets in the estate when the preceding administrator or executor can or will no longer perform
administrator pendente lite \ -​pen-​ˈden-​tē-​ˈlī-​tē, -​pen-​ˈden-​tā-​ˈlē-​tā \
: special administrator in this entry
administrator with the will annexed
: an administrator appointed to administer an estate where the will names no executor or where the named executor is incapable of performing or unwilling to perform

called also administrator cum testamento annexo

ancillary administrator
: a subordinate administrator appointed to administer the assets of an estate that are located in a different jurisdiction from the one where the deceased was domiciled and where the primary administration of the estate is taking place
foreign administrator
: an administrator appointed in another state
general administrator
: an administrator appointed to administer the entire estate of a deceased person in accordance with the laws of intestacy or in accordance with the will if there is one compare special administrator in this entry
independent administrator
: an administrator whose administration of the estate is entirely or mostly unsupervised by the probate court
public administrator
: a public officer who administers the estates of deceased people when there is no one else willing or entitled to perform
: an administrator appointed in some states for the sole purpose of being responsible for the assets in an estate pending settlement of a dispute or when there is doubt as to who should be appointed administrator
special administrator
: an administrator appointed to administer only a designated part of the deceased person's estate
: an administrator appointed for the sole purpose of being responsible for the assets in an estate usually in some emergency (as a will contest) compare general administrator in this entry
2
: a person that administers
especially, often capitalized : the head of a government agency

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