Administrations

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The processes or actions of managing an organization or government, often including the implementation of policies and regulations
2. The officials or groups responsible for overseeing and executing specific activities within a governmental or institutional framework
3. The act of organizing and controlling operations, which may involve both public and private sectors in a structured manner

Etymology: "Administrations" is simply the plural of "administration," so it is the form you use when referring to several distinct governing bodies or periods of management, such as successive governments or the leadership teams of different organizations. The noun itself traces back through Middle English "administracioun," borrowed from Old French "administration," which came from the Latin "administratio," the act of managing or directing affairs. That Latin root, "administrare," is built from "ad-" (toward) and "ministrare" (to serve, attend to), so the underlying idea is of serving or attending to someone's business. The sense of "ministering" to affairs is what lies behind the modern meaning of organizing and controlling operations. The English verb "administrate," from which the noun is formed with the suffix "-ion," sits alongside the older verb "administer," which is the more common path into English.

Synonyms: governments, managements, authorities