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

• managerial

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

If plaintiffs withdraw their claim prior to their hearing, Citizens automatically wins and can ask the administrative judge to approve charging them thousands of dollars in attorney costs and court fees. —Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025

The Folsom Cordova board reviewed many items, including a letter from the school district recommending to terminate Mayer and an administrative hearing’s findings, including testimony from Mayer’s colleagues, students, and a school district investigation. —Sacbee.com, 12 July 2025

Thanks to an administrative screw-up for the ages, that’s exactly what happened. —Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025

These administrative changes will coincide with preparations for the run-up to the next tax season, including reworking existing IRS software and tax forms. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

administr(ation) + -ative

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing administrative

• administrative county
• administrative law

Rhymes for administrative

• accommodative
• accumulative
• adjudicative
• agglutinative
• ameliorative
• appreciative
• assimilative
• associative
• authoritative
• collaborative
• cooperative
• deliberative

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