administrative

adjective

ad·​min·​is·​tra·​tive əd-ˈmi-nə-ˌstrā-tiv 

-strə-

: of or relating to administration or an administration : relating to the management of a company, school, or other organization

administrative tasks/duties/responsibilities

administrative expenses/costs

a hospital's administrative staff

… these schools are given wide latitude in creating their teaching programs as long as they meet certain academic standards; they are also freed from many of the administrative and hiring rules governing traditional public schools.

—Suzanna Andrews

Synonyms

• directorial
• executive
• managerial
• supervisory

Examples of administrative in a Sentence

She has an administrative job.

among his other administrative duties is the appointment of transit authority officials

Recent Examples on the Web

The policy ended on March 31, 2023, with eligibility checks and disenrollments recommencing for those who were either ineligible, or whose redetermination could not be completed due to administrative hurdles. —Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

After President Donald Trump’s administration announced a 90-day freeze on foreign assistance, dozens of senior USAID officials were put on administrative leave, and thousands of contractors were laid off. —Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025

Instead, the officials were threatened with arrest and placed on administrative leave, and DOGE’s team gained access. —Richard Forno, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2025

Employees at the Environmental Protection Agency were told that some of them could soon be placed on administrative leave, four people familiar with the matter said. —Natasha Frost, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

administr(ation) + -ative

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing administrative

• administrative county
• administrative law

Kids Definition

administrative

adjective

ad·​min·​is·​tra·​tive əd-ˈmin-ə-ˌstrāt-iv 

-strət-

: of or relating to administration

an administrative position

Legal Definition

administrative

adjective

ad·​min·​i·​stra·​tive əd-ˈmi-nə-ˌstrā-tiv 

1

: of or relating to the performance of a function : ministerial

administrative communications include…instructions that encourage a jury to continue its deliberations

—National Law Journal

2

: of or relating to the executive branch of a government compare legislative, judicial

3

: of or relating to a government agency

administrative remedies