administration

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The everyday work of managing an organization, such as keeping records and organizing staff.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable: she works in hospital administration.

   Patterns

   • administration of something
   • work in administration

   She studied business administration at college.

   Too much time goes to administration, not teaching.

   The administration of the fund takes a team of five.

2. 2nouncountable

   The people who run a school, company or institution.

   Grammar: Takes a singular or plural verb in British English: the administration has or have decided.

   Patterns

   • the school administration
   • the administration of something

   The university administration announced a tuition freeze.

   Students asked the administration to extend library hours.

   The hospital administration is meeting today.

3. 3nouncountableAmerican

   A national government, especially during one leader's period in office.

   Grammar: Often capitalized in the US when it means a presidential government: the Obama administration.

   Patterns

   • the administration of someone
   • under the administration

   The administration proposed new tax rules.

   Several policies began under the previous administration.

   The new administration takes office in January.

4. 4noununcountableformal

   The act of giving or applying something, such as medicine or justice.

   Grammar: Followed by of: the administration of a drug.

   Patterns

   • the administration of something

   The nurse oversaw the administration of the vaccine.

   The administration of justice must be fair.

   Correct administration of the drug is vital.

Word forms

Common combinations

business administration

He holds a degree in business administration.

public administration

She works in public administration for the city.

school administration

The school administration changed the schedule.

the previous administration

The previous administration signed the treaty.

administration costs

The charity keeps administration costs low.

administration of medicine

Careful administration of medicine matters.

Synonyms and how they differ

management

Management stresses directing people and decisions, while administration stresses routine running and organizing.

government

Government is the institution itself, while administration usually names one leader's time in office.

leadership

Leadership is about guiding, not about daily paperwork and organization.

paperwork

Paperwork is only the documents, a small part of administration.

Word family

administer verb

to manage or give out

administrator noun

a person who manages an organization

administrative adjective

relating to running an organization

administratively adverb

in a way that concerns management

Commonly confused: administration or administer? administration or ministration?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “administration”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words