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 William Haddon, a pioneering public-health scientist, became the agency’s first administrator and oversaw the first safety requirements for new cars, including energy-absorbing steering columns, shoulder harnesses, and side-door beams. Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024 Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Adelita Grijalva said the board has asked the county administrator to look into the situation. Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024 Students with friends, teachers making communities in classrooms, administrators knowing students' names, and being involved in the school all promote community and togetherness and reduce gun violence, intimidation, and bully-like behaviors. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Oct. 2024 Unlike traditional game theory experiments where players can’t communicate, healthcare’s players—insurers, hospital administrators and physicians—have the power to collaborate directly. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for administrator 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'administrator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near administrator

Cite this Entry

“Administrator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/administrator. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on administrator

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!