administer

verb

ad·​min·​is·​ter əd-ˈmi-nə-stər 

administered; administering əd-ˈmi-nə-st(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to manage or supervise the execution, use, or conduct of

administer a trust fund

2

a

: to provide or apply : dispense

administer justice

administer punishment

b

: to give officially or as part of a ritual

administer a test

administer the last rites

c

: to give remedially

administer a dose of medicine

intransitive verb

1

: to perform the office of administrator

2

: to furnish a benefit : minister

administer to an ailing friend

3

: to manage affairs

administrable

əd-ˈmi-nə-strə-bəl 

adjective

administrant

əd-ˈmi-nə-strənt 

noun

Synonyms

• allocate
• apportion
• deal (out)
• dispense
• distribute
• dole out
• hand out
• mete (out)
• parcel (out)
• portion
• prorate

Examples of administer in a Sentence

As a cost-saving measure, voters have elected to have the two towns administered jointly.

The UN personnel are there to help administer the territory.

She's been hired to administer the fund.

The assistant will administer the test.

a priest to administer the sacraments

Recent Examples on the Web

Task-force torturers beat and administered electric shocks to the women for nearly a week. —Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024

Simultaneously, innovations in data storage technology will require the development of new skills to administer, as well as innovative thinking in order to fully leverage their potential for accelerating progress. —Bernard Marr, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

The vaccine, administered in two doses beginning at age 9, can be used alongside screening to lower cervical cancer rates later in a person’s life. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

The drug is a monoclonal antibody administered through an IV infusion that targets amyloid plaque in the brain and has been shown in clinical trials to modestly slow memory decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English administren, aministren, borrowed from Anglo-French administrer, aministrer, borrowed from Latin administrāre "to assist, operate, perform, manage the affairs of," from ad- ad- + ministrāre "to wait on, serve, furnish" — more at minister entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing administer

• co-administer
• self-administer

Kids Definition

administer

verb

ad·​min·​is·​ter əd-ˈmin-ə-stər 

administered; administering -st(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to direct the affairs of : manage

administer a government

2

: to give out as deserved

administer justice

3

: to give formally or ceremonially

administer the sacraments

4

: to give as treatment

administer a drug

Medical Definition

administer

transitive verb

ad·​min·​is·​ter əd-ˈmin-ə-stər 

administered; administering -st(ə-)riŋ 

: to give (as medicine) remedially

the antibiotic may be administered orally or by injection

Legal Definition

administer

verb

ad·​min·​is·​ter əd-ˈmi-nə-stər 

administered; administering

transitive verb

1

: to manage the affairs of (as a government or agency)

2

a

: to direct or supervise the execution, use, or conduct of

administer a trust fund

b

: to settle (an estate) under a court appointment as administrator or executor

3

a

: to give ritually

administer an oath

b

: to give (as a narcotic) for the purpose of ingesting

intransitive verb

1

: to perform the office of an administrator or executor

2

: to manage or conduct affairs

administrable

əd-ˈmi-nə-strə-bəl 

adjective