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

While these might have been meant well, the result is a series of bureaucratic hurdles that raise costs and delays. —Shelley Stewart Iii, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

More recently, teacher morale and bureaucratic spending were cited as critiques of the former superintendent. —Amir Mahmoud, Arkansas Online, 30 June 2025

And developers who take on the spatial complexities of working with old architecture face a dismaying array of bureaucratic and financial challenges. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025

This semiannual bureaucratic conclave of public health professionals is not usually must-see TV. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025

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

Rhymes for bureaucratic

• adiabatic
• aristocratic
• asymptomatic
• axiomatic
• diagrammatic
• diaphragmatic
• electrostatic
• endolymphatic
• epigrammatic
• homeostatic
• idiomatic
• magnetostatic

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