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.

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apparat British  

/ ˌæpəˈrɑːt /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of apparat

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

Example Sentences

The security apparat would weary of the task.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025

Bertolt Brecht is typical of those who believe that "Kafka described with wonderful imaginative power the future concentration camps, the future instability of the law, the future absolutism of the state apparat."

From Time Magazine Archive

The CDU was further rocked last week by the old apparat.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

The United States Secret Service doesn't mess around when it suspects a possible action by a foreign intelligence apparat.

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