bureaucracy

[bjʊəˈɹɒkɹəsi]

[bjʊˈɹɑːkɹəsi]

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A bureaucracy is an organization with a lot of rules and officials who follow those rules. It's often slow-moving and can seem impersonal.

When people talk about bureaucracies, they usually mean large organizations like governments or big companies that deal with lots of paperwork and regulations. Think of the DMV (driver's license office) or a hospital - these places have to follow strict rules to make sure everything is done correctly and safely. When you visit one of these places, you might feel like you're stuck in a slow-moving machine because of all the procedures they need to go through before they can help you. That's kind of what a bureaucracy feels like.

How common is "bureaucracy"?

Word bureaucracy is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

Government by bureaus or their administrators or officers.
(organizational theory) A system of administration based upon organisation into bureaus, division of labour, a hierarchy of authority, etc., designed to dispose of a large body of work in a routine manner.
Example: At that time the administration replaced the system of patronage in the civil service with a bureaucracy.
The body of officers and administrators, especially of a government.
Example: The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy. (apocryphal quip)
Excessive red tape and routine in any administration, body or behaviour.
Example: The head of the civil service promised to clamp down on bureaucracy.

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bureaucracy

How common is "bureaucracy"?

noun

Real examples of "bureaucracy" in context

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