bureaucratic

adjective

bu·​reau·​crat·​ic ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkra-tik 

ˌbyər-

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy or a bureaucrat

bureaucratic government

a bureaucratic organization

bureaucratic procedures

bureaucratically

ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌbyər-

adverb

Examples of bureaucratic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once financing is secured for this project, there are still bureaucratic obstacles to overcome. —Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, when Mckenna Grace’s Phoebe Spengler was sidelined by the Ghostbusters’ longtime bureaucratic nemesis, Walter Peck (William Atherton), the young Ghostbusting hero went on an unexpected journey that quickly introduced her to Lind’s surprise character, Melody. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024

But there were other regrettable incidents in which the culprit may have been simple human error and the ordinary bureaucratic disarray of any sizable public school. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024

If the United States and the CARICOM do not get this next chapter right—and stand by leaders who are credible, are legitimate, and have the bureaucratic experience to put the Haitian state back on track—the cycle of violence and dysfunction will not end. —Pierre Esperance, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024

The gatherings are heavily scripted bureaucratic events. —Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024

The attrition rate among firefighters is soaring, with many leaving the profession due to the physical and mental toll of exposure to dangerous conditions and bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining necessary support. —Monica Sanders, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Here, jokes about the city’s storied landmarks and its bureaucratic bottlenecks help ground some of the sitcom’s headier themes. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024

In theory, this protects vaccine manufacturers from certain high-risk financial penalties, while also allowing qualified plaintiffs the ability to receive monetary compensation more quickly with fewer bureaucratic and legal hurdles. —Paul Hsieh, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French bureaucratique, from bureaucrate bureaucrat or bureaucratie bureaucracy + -ique -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bureaucratic

• anti-bureaucratic

Kids Definition

bureaucratic

adjective

bu·​reau·​crat·​ic ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkrat-ik 

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy or bureaucrat

bureaucratically

-ˈkrat-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb