Administrations refers to the offices or groups responsible for running or governing institutions, especially in political or organizational contexts. It can also denote the period during which these offices are active, or the act of administering systems or programs. The term often appears in formal or academic discussions about governance, public policy, or organizational leadership.
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"The administrations of the last two presidents shifted policy priorities dramatically."
"Global health administrations coordinate vaccine distribution and data reporting."
"The university’s administration announced new campus safety protocols."
"During administrative transitions, you may see temporary leadership and reorganizations."
Administrations derives from Middle English administracioun (late 14th century), from Old French administracion, based on Latin administratio, from administrare “to manage, direct, arrange.” The root ad- (“toward, in addition”) plus ministrare, meaning “to serve, attend to, manage.” The word entered English with the sense of “the act of administering” in the administrative sense, then evolved to denote the group of people who administer, such as a government or organization. Over time, the term broadened to include the period of rule within a government (the current administration) and the act of administering programs or services. By the 19th and 20th centuries, “administrations” appeared in formal political writing to reference multiple administrations or the bodies that administer policy. First known use in canonical records appears in legal and governmental texts from the 1400s onward, with consistent usage in the modern sense by the 1800s. In contemporary English, the plural form commonly references successive sets of administrators or successive administrations within a government or institution, often contrasted with the opposition or other branches. The nuance includes governance, management, policy implementation, and organizational control across different domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "administrations" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "administrations" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "administrations"
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Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say ad-MIN-is-TRA-tions, with primary stress on the third syllable - /ˌæd.mɪˈstreɪ.ʃənz/. Start with a clear /æ/ in ‘ad,’ then a light /mɪ/ before the stressed /ˈstreɪ/. The /t/ is released in the ‘tions’ cluster as /tɪ.ənz/ in careful speech, often sounding /ˈstreɪ.ʃənz/ in fast delivery. A good audio cue is to emphasize the /ˈstreɪ/ syllable and softly pronounce the trailing /ənz/. Audio references: Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations reflect the /ˌæd.mɪˈstreɪ.ʃənz/ pattern.
Common errors: misplacing stress (e.g., ad-MIN-istrations), treating ‘-ations’ as /eɪʃənz/ instead of /eɪ.ʃənz/, and omitting the final /z/ or not releasing the /t/. Correction: keep primary stress on /ˈstreɪ/ (three-syllable core) and articulate all consonants: /ˌæd.mɪˈstreɪ.ʃənz/. Practice with slow, segmented saying: ad - min - i - stra - tions, then blend. Ensure /t/ is audible before /j/ to avoid /dʒ/ or /s/ substitutions.
US: /ˌæd.mɪˈstreɪ.ʃənz/ with rhotic /r/ in related words and clear /ɪ/ in the second syllable. UK: similar pattern but often faster, with flatter vowels and less pronounced /ɪ/; non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech may reduce /r/ awareness. AU: may reduce vowels slightly and merge some vowels; retain /ˈstreɪ/ but overall tempo is brisk. Across all: the final /z/ is voiced; ensure it’s not /s/ or /ɪz/.
It combines a multisyllabic rhythm with a stressed mid-to-late syllable and a consonant cluster ‘tions’ that often weakens in quick speech. The challenge lies in timing the primary stress on /ˈstreɪ/ while not over-elongating adjacent vowels, and in producing the final /z/ after a nasal + sibilant sequence. Practice syllable-by-syllable segmentation and then smooth the transition to fluent speech.
A useful cue is to anchor on the /streɪ/ sound and think of it as ‘ad-mi-STRAY-shuns’ with ‘-tions’ manifesting as /ˈstreɪ.ʃənz/ in careful speech. Visualize the word as four units: ad - min - is - tra-tions; ensure the final /z/ dances clearly after the /n/. This helps maintain accurate syllable division and reduces slipping into /ədˈmɪn.ɪˈstreɪ.ʃəs/ mistakes.
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