# admin

/ˈædmɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/admin
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. office work

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the routine tasks and paperwork needed to run a business or organization.

For teachers: administrative or clerical work, typically involving record-keeping, scheduling, and documentation. Uncountable in this sense.

- I spent the whole morning doing admin instead of working on my project.
- The new software was designed to reduce the amount of daily admin required from the nursing staff, allowing them more time for patient care.

### 2. a person in charge

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a person whose job is to manage a business, a computer system, or a website.

For teachers: an administrator, specifically one responsible for managing an organization, a network, or an online community. Countable in this sense.

- If you can't log in to your account, you should contact the site admin.
- The system admin revoked his access privileges after several security protocols were breached during the night shift.

### 3. the management

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the group of people who manage a company or organization.

For teachers: the administrative or managerial body of an organization. Often used as a collective noun.

- The school admin decided to change the dates for the summer holidays.
- Tensions rose between the faculty and the university admin regarding the proposed budget cuts for the humanities department.

### 4. to manage

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

to manage or look after a website, group, or system.

For teachers: to perform the duties of an administrator for a specific entity. Transitive use.

- She helps admin the local community group on social media.
- He has been tasked to admin the server while the primary technician is away on leave.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- I need to finish some admin before I can leave the office.
- If you forget your password, you will need to contact the system admin to reset your account access.
- While the creative team focuses on product development, the admin department handles the logistical complexities of international shipping and customs documentation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.