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

There’s no better mission for the former CEO of WWE than a bureaucratic smackdown. —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 8 Feb. 2025

This is not a bureaucratic quagmire or a FEMA-like situation. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025

While Democrats cling to norms and rules, bureaucratic processes and Old World etiquette, the Republican Party, now almost entirely populated by Trump cronies and loyalists, promotes a vision of government unbeholden to legality or due process. —Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025

The Los Angeles fires are more than 15 times bigger and will be a bureaucratic mess and tragedy for many families. —David Bainbridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 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

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