bureaucratic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bureaucratic
From the French word bureaucratique, dating back to 1830–40. See bureaucrat, -ic
Explanation
Anything bureaucratic has to do with the business of running an organization — usually not in a very efficient manner. If there are bureaucrats or a bureaucracy involved, go ahead and call it bureaucratic. This adjective is used in a negative sense to describe a person or organization more concerned with following procedures than being guided by common sense. Bureaucratic things usually involve loads of paperwork and nonsensical rules, otherwise known as "red tape" — a connection that originated in the 17th century when official documents were bound together with actual red tape.
Vocabulary lists containing bureaucratic
This Week in Words: September 17 - 24, 2017
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Just Mercy
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The Color of Water
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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.
Bureaucratic obstacles, such as delays in obtaining permits, made it harder to quickly build up data centres, and the region's computing power, she said.
From Barron's • Nov. 24, 2025
"The same applies to the incorporation of new technologies -- expressing the need for it is not enough. Bureaucratic obstacles and resistance to change are likely to be encountered," says KTU professor.
From Science Daily • Oct. 18, 2023
Bureaucratic setbacks and a lack of government support can be devastating.
From Slate • Jul. 27, 2023
Bureaucratic inertia meant word took weeks to filter to Chinese customs officials, say traders, who had to visit eight government departments to sort permits.
From Reuters • May 2, 2023
First, one produced something entitled "A Critique of the Bureaucratic Culture Pattern."
From Joy Ride by Meadows, Mark
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
