apparat

American  

[ap-uh-rat, ah-puh-raht] / ˌæp əˈræt, ˌɑ pəˈrɑt /

noun

1. an organization or existing power structure, especially a political one.

   a position of leadership within the party apparat; The chess apparat is not eager to change tournament rules.

---

apparat British  

/ ˌæpəˈrɑːt /

noun

1. the Communist Party organization in the former Soviet Union and other states

---

Etymology

Origin of apparat

1940–45; < Russian apparát originally, scientific apparatus < German < Latin apparātus. See apparatus

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

apparat

The security apparat would weary of the task.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025

While both are considered supporters of perestroika, they are also veteran members of the party apparat, come from the same ideological mold as the men they replaced and give no hint of brilliance.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is, he says, made up of the "only systems that work -- the army, the KGB and the good old party apparat."

From Time Magazine Archive

Otto Latsis, a Moscow political commentator, says Zyuganov heads "the worst part of the old party apparat, the most reactionary fringe."

From Time Magazine Archive

As this was the first known encounter between an actual no-kidding cyberpunk and a chief executive of America's largest and best-financed electronic espionage apparat, there was naturally a bit of eyebrow-raising on both sides.

From The Hacker Crackdown, law and disorder on the electronic frontier by Bruce Sterling

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---