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bureaucratese

American  
[byoor-uh-kra-teez, -tees, byoo-rok-ruh-] / ˌbjʊər ə kræˈtiz, -ˈtis, bjʊˌrɒk rə- /

noun

  1. a style of language, used especially by bureaucrats, that is full of circumlocutions, euphemisms, buzzwords, abstractions, etc.


Etymology

Origin of bureaucratese

bureaucrat + -ese

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It doesn't take a doctorate in bureaucratese to interpret this.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2025

That’s bureaucratese for “we don’t feel too strongly about this.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2022

Hovering over modern discussions of usage is the spectre of George Orwell, whose essay “Politics and the English Language” challenged the degeneracy of bureaucratese.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 30, 2019

A blown-up “Abuse Report” translates petty art-world grievances into the bureaucratese of a government complaint.

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2018

The bland bureaucratese of an April 2004 report by the General Accounting Office did not hide harsh conclusions: Overseas missions were draining the guard of its troops, particularly in expert specialties.

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2016

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