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administered
/ədˈmɪnɪstərd/
to manage or give
The nurse administered the vaccine to the patient.
The nurse gave the vaccine to the patient as part of a medical procedure.
Law
formal
to manage or supervise the execution of something
The court administered justice fairly.
The legal system ensured justice was carried out impartially.
Often used in legal or institutional contexts to describe oversight.
Medicine
formal
to give or apply something, especially medicine or a test
The doctor administered a dose of antibiotics.
The doctor gave the patient a measured amount of antibiotics.
Common in healthcare settings for treatments or procedures.
Business
formal
to dispense or provide something, such as a service or punishment
The company administered a survey to its employees.
The company distributed and collected responses from a survey.
Used for organizational or operational tasks.
Collocations
administered bymanaged or given byadministered togiven to someone
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 'administrate'
'Administer' is more common in everyday usage, while 'administrate' is a rarer variant often limited to legal or technical contexts.
Gold Rule
Formal context required
Use 'administered' only when referring to official, professional, or institutional actions, not personal tasks.
Word Origin
From Latin *administrare* (to manage), from *ad-* (to) + *ministrare* (to serve). Entered English in the late 14th century via Old French *administrer*.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in formal or professional contexts. Avoid using it casually for everyday tasks unless mimicking formal language.
Word Breakdown
ad-
to/toward
prefix-minister-
to serve
root-ed
past tense verb suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary