Administrative vs Administration: Difference and Comparison

Is there a difference between the terms “administrative” vs “administration”?

“Administrative” is an adjective, a term of or relating to administering or administration. The word “administration” has several meanings in the English dictionary.

As a noun, the Oxford English Dictionary defines “administration” as the act of administrating, government public affairs, the service rendered or duties assumed, in conducting affairs, and the conducting of any office or employment.

Both words are related but are used differently in spoken and written English.

Stay with us as we discuss the difference between “administrative” and “administration”.

What Is the Meaning of Administrative?

The term “administrative” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is of or relating to administration or an administration- relating to the management of a company, school, or other organization.

It refers to the tasks and processes that are involved in keeping an organization functioning as well as managing it.

Maintaining and keeping an organization functional may include activities such as correspondence, finance and accounting, human resources, legal and regulatory compliance, information management, office management, record keeping, and scheduling.

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What Is the Meaning of Administration?

The word “administration” has several meanings in the English dictionary.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “administration” is the act of administering; government of public affairs, the service rendered or duties assumed, in conducting affairs, the conducting of any office or employment.

Administration also refers to a body that administers- the executive part of government, the persons collectively who are entrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs, the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council, or the council or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain.

The term “administration’ also refers to the act of administering or tendering something to another.

Etymology

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “administration” is from the Middle English ‘administracioun’- borrowed Anglo-French ‘amynistraciun, administracioun’ borrowed from the Latin word ‘administrātiōn-, administrātiō.

Administrative vs Administration: Key Differences between Administrative and Administration

The word “administrative” is an adjective and it’s of or relating to administering or administration, while “administration” is a noun with several meanings.

It refers to the tasks and processes that are involved in keeping an organization functioning as well as managing it.

In contrast, administration is the act of administering; the government of public affairs, the service rendered or duties assumed, in conducting affairs, the conducting of any office or employment.

Administration also refers to a body that administers- the executive part if government, the persons collectively who are entrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs, the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council, or the council or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain.

Administrative serves as the adjective form characterizing things that are related to administration. It describes the tasks, roles, and processes involved in management and not just the act of managing itself.

Administrative duties, staff or policies all revolve around the tasks related to managing operations.

Administration refers to the organized direction, coordination of tasks, and planning within a functional organization, institution or government entity.

Administration is also a term that could denote a governing body or group that manages a functional system such as a school or government.

On the other hand, administrative is usually responsible for specific roles or tasks related to management. For instance, when someone is talking about administrative skills, the discussion refers to the abilities associated with handling a managerial task.

Administrative decisions are those made relating to governance or management.

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Administrative vs Administration: Comparison Chart

	Administrative	Administration
Definition	Of or relating to administration or an administration- relating to the management of a company, school, or other organization.	The act of administering; government of public affairs, the service rendered or duties assumed, in conducting affairs, the conducting of any office or employment.
Words class	Adjective	Noun
Field of relevance	Found in descriptions of jobs, duties, or skills.	Commonly used in the context of governing bodies or management systems.
Examples	Administrative assistant, administrative task.	School administration, government administration.
Usage	Describe tasks, roles, or aspects of management.	Refers to the act or system of management.

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Administrative vs Administration: Examples of Sentences

Let’s look at a few examples of simple sentences with the terms “administrative” and “administration”.

Simple Sentences with Administrative

The firm’s administrative duties include mentoring new employees and providing feedback on questions.
The administrative workload was too much for the team to handle, but they surprised everyone by completing the project.
Our administrative staff will act quickly and complete all papers required for the project.
The company’s administrative team is responsible for attending to questions.
They made an estimate, but the administrative costs of the project were higher than they expected.
Applicants complain about the administrative process of obtaining a visa.
The company updated its administrative regulations a few months ago.
The administrative department was blamed for the recent decline in processing files.
The administrative department has been receiving a lot of complaints lately.
The administrative assistant is responsible for arranging files and attending to new employees.

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Simple Sentences with Administration

Our supervisor rejected the idea of appointing Tyler to a senior post in the administration.
He was appointed as minister of power under the administration of the former president.
The new governor’s administration is making policies that would lead to more development in the state.
The last administration presented a budget that was accepted by the Senate.
The major urged the administration to introduce a new policy to reduce the budget deficit.
The panel complained that too much time was spent on administration.
The doctor told us that are several methods of administration used for drug delivery.
They think the last administration was incompetent in managing finance.
The council controls the departmental administration and its decision to fund privately owned businesses.
The previous administration thought privatization was the answer to solving the nation’s economic problems.

Administrative vs Administration: Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a few frequently asked questions about the difference between “administrative” vs “administration.

What is the meaning of administrative?

Of or relating to administration or an administration- relating to the management of a company, school, or other organization.

What is administration?

It’s the act of administering; government of public affairs, the service rendered or duties assumed, in conducting affairs, the conducting of any office or employment.

Also Read: Purpose vs Plan: Difference and Comparison

Is administration all about governance?

Administration is not only related to governance but refers to management in institutions or businesses.

What is the meaning of the term “administration” in a medical context?

In a medical context, “administration” refers to the process of giving out or applying- such as the administration of medicine.

What is the function of administrative tasks?

Administrative tasks involve being responsible for specific roles or tasks related to management.

Conclusion

The word “administrative” is an adjective and it’s of or relating to administering or administration, while “administration” is a noun with several meanings.

Administration refers to the tasks and processes that are involved in keeping an organization functioning as well as managing it.

Administration is also a term that could denote a governing body or group that manages a functional system such as a school or government.

Administrative vs Administration: Difference and Comparison

What Is the Meaning of Administrative?