administer

1 of 2

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

administrant

2 of 2

noun

ad·​min·​is·​trant əd-ˈmi-nə-strənt 

ad-

plural -s

: one that administers

Synonyms of administer

Verb

• distribute
• dispense
• provide
• allocate

Examples of administer in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

In the chamber, Hood extends one shaking hand over Silvia, his other hand lightly bracing Silvia’s leg as the three drugs are being administered in sequence. — Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Four suspects pleaded guilty, including mastermind David Voss, and Benji admitted guilt and had his case administered through a First Nations restorative justice program, while charges against two were dropped, CityNews notes. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The brother of Hayden Panettiere‘s boyfriend revealed that Brian Hickerson administered Narcan to the actor after both found her unconscious at a South Carolina townhouse on Sunday. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026

That includes administering additional doses of birth control to horses. — Stina Sieg, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

administer + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing administer

• co-administer
• self-administer

Rhymes for administer

• minister
• sinister

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