What does "administration" mean?
The act of administering; government of public affairs; the service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the conducting of any office or employment; direction.
Administration
/ədˌmɪnəˈstɹeɪʃən/ name, noun
name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of administering; government of public affairs; the service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the conducting of any office or employment; direction.
- Grammar: administration is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: governance, management, organization, presidency.
- Useful contrasts: collegians, disorganization, mismanagement.
- Usage evidence: The appropriation is pin-money; it wouldn't be enough even to build a gym, much less build the administration building.
How to use "administration"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "administration" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "administration" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "administration" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "administration" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "administration" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "governance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "administration", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of administering; government of public affairs; the service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the conducting of any office or employment; direction. uncountable, usually
"[…] the fact that the propertied classes are no longer the best educated, and the fact that the large number of people who owe their position solely to their general education do not possess that experience of the working of the economic system which the administration of property gives are important to understanding the role of the intellectual."
- 2 the act of meting out justice according to the law wordnet
- 3 The executive part of government; the persons collectively who are entrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs; the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council; or the council, or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain. countable, usually
"Successive US administrations have had similar Middle East policies."
- 4 the act of administering medication wordnet
- 5 The country's government under the rule of a particular leader. uncountable, usually
"The Obama administration"
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 the act of governing; exercising authority wordnet
- 7 A body that administers; a body of administrators. countable, usually
"The Chiang Mai Administrative Court ruled in favour of students from the Media Arts and Design Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, who filed for a temporary injunction on 18 October after the University administration prohibited them from showing their final theses in the University Art Centre because some pieces dealt with social and political themes."
- 8 a method of tending to or managing the affairs of some group of people (especially the group's business affairs) wordnet
- 9 The act of administering, or tendering something to another; dispensation. uncountable, usually
"the administration of a medicine, of an oath, of justice, or of the sacrament"
- 10 the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something wordnet
- 11 Management. uncountable, usually
- 12 the tenure of a president wordnet
- 13 An arrangement whereby an insolvent company can continue trading under supervision. UK, uncountable, usually
"The company went into voluntary administration last week."
Proper Noun
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of administration. US, alt-of, nonstandard, often
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The appropriation is pin-money; it wouldn't be enough even to build a gym, much less build the administration building."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "administration"?
Common synonyms include: governance, management, organization, presidency, supervision, academic dean.
How do you use "administration" in a sentence?
The appropriation is pin-money; it wouldn't be enough even to build a gym, much less build the administration building.
How do you pronounce "administration"?
Pronounced /ədˌmɪnəˈstɹeɪʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English administracioun, from Old French administration, from Latin administratio, from administrare; see administer; compare French administration. Equivalent to administrate + -ion.