bureau

American  

[byoor-oh] / ˈbyʊər oʊ /

noun

plural

bureaus, bureaux

1. a chest of drawers, often with a mirror at the top.

2. a division of a government department or an independent administrative unit.

3. an office for collecting or distributing news or information, coordinating work, or performing specified services; agency.

   a travel bureau; a news bureau.

4. Chiefly British. a desk or writing table with drawers for papers.

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bureau British  

/ ˈbjʊərəʊ /

noun

1. a writing desk with pigeonholes, drawers, etc, against which the writing surface can be closed when not in use

2. a chest of drawers

3. an office or agency, esp one providing services for the public

4. 1. a government department

   2. a branch of a government department

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Other Word Forms

• subbureau noun

Etymology

Origin of bureau

1710–20; < French: desk, office, originally a kind of cloth (used to cover desks, etc.), Anglo-French, Old French burel, equivalent to bur- (probably < *būra, variant of Late Latin burra wool, fluff ; bourrée ) + -el noun suffix

Example Sentences

Michael Amon is deputy world coverage chief, helping to direct coverage across all The Wall Street Journal's foreign bureaus.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jason Donner, who worked at the network’s Washington bureau as a reporter and producer was fired on Sept. 28, 2022, two days after calling in sick.

From Los Angeles Times

He previously interned in the Washington bureau of the Los Angeles Times.

From The Wall Street Journal

According to a report by the Washington Post, Patel has directed agents in the bureau’s San Francisco office to redact the case files for public release.

From Los Angeles Times

Jonathan Greenberger, previously ABC News’s Washington bureau chief, will focus on expanding Politico’s audience.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• agency
• authority
• board
• commission
• committee
• department
• division
• office