I was told by my manager that WD-40 spray product was not a lubricant but a adhesive. is this true?

Now you know why he is a manager>

Its a solvent, water dispersant, mild lubricant, not an adhesive, though it works well to remove sticker adhesive residue from objects. The intended use is a penetrating lubricant meant to make the removal of stubborn bolts and screws easier.

FROM WD-40' website:

WD-40, everyone's favorite multi-purpose problem solver for over 50 years, cleans, lubricates and protects against corrosion. It also removes grease, gum, dirt, adhesives, & scuff marks. Enjoy the popular, newly expanded Official List of 2000+ Uses for WD-40

The confusion might stem from the "bi-polar" composition of WD-40. It is to some degree a lubricant, a penetrant, & a preservative. If you would carry 1 product with you to cover these needs, something like WD-40 isn't a bad choice, but as it is a solvent mixed with a sticky oily residue, it is not the best lubricant, not the best penetrant, & not the best preservative. It is much better to use specific products designed with those needs in mind. It is _definitely_ not recommended for use on fine, close tolerances like firearms or locks unless on an emergency basis & they are to be disassembled shortly afterward & serviced properly.

To some degree, you & your manager are both right, depending on the conditions, equipment & length of time exposed to the elements.

WD 40 is not really a lubricant, particularly long term lubricant (use oil afterwords) and it is definitely NOT an adhesive. However, I have been told WD is corrosive to alloy over a period of time, for example door locks etc. Can anybody verify?

Well as stated above, most everybody got the whole "water displacement" thing. So, it is definitely not an adhesive and honestly it isn't a very good lubricant either... For example, Liquid Wrench is a better product for freeing up corroded fasteners, and Three-In-One oil is a better general purpose light machine oil.

WD-40 stands for "water displacement formula #40". named as such because it was the 40th attempt at making a sprayable lubricant. it's not a true lubricant because it removes moisture but also never completely dries. It is definitely NOT an adhesive

Did he have some special formula of WD-40? When I've used it, it never stuck anything together. If it were an adhesive is would have rendered my hinges useless.

its neither a lubricant nor an adhesive...

WD40 stands for water displacement compound formula 40

as a byproduct of displacing water it does however lubricate but that isnt the prime reason it was developed

It's a lubricant, not an adhesive.

its definitely a lubricant because people spray it on things to get rid of the squeaking noises on doors or anything with hinges and other things they may need to be loosened up

Tell your manager to read the can. Better yet ask him to demonstrate jus ONE use as an adhesive.