stovepipe

1 of 2

noun

stove·​pipe ˈstōv-ˌpīp 

1

: pipe of large diameter usually of sheet steel used as a stove chimney or to connect a stove with a flue

2

: silk hat

3

: an isolated and narrow channel of communication

Instead of streamlining Washington's ability to perform, the department clogged it up with new layers of bureaucracy and stovepipes of information.

—Christopher Cooper and Robert Block

We had 18 intelligence agencies, and they had what was called the famous stovepipes. They wouldn't share with each other, wouldn't talk to each other.

—Jay Rockefeller

stovepipe

2 of 2

verb

stovepiped; stovepiping; stovepipes

transitive verb

: to transmit (information) to a higher level in an organization through an isolated and narrow channel of communication

This [Pentagon policy] office, which circumvented the usual procedures of vetting and transparency, stovepiped many of its findings to the highest-ranking officials.

—Seymour M. Hersh

Examples of stovepipe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the drone ecosystem, definitive stovepipes revolve around technology development. —Bill Edwards, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

A couple of cute guys sported Pierrot pajamas and a slouchy golden-beige sweater over a black linen kilt; an hourglass black jacket—its waist nipped as if someone had inhaled in shock—came with stovepipe pants with scrunched hems; a downtown Degas tulle petticoat looked decidedly Black Swan-ish. —Mark Holgate, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2024

These two foci have enabled the organization to help ameliorate the impact of the traditional stovepipes. —Peter High, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024

But these national stovepipes are a peacetime luxury. —Philip Zelikow, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1988, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

stovepipe

noun

stove·​pipe ˈstōv-ˌpīp 

1

: a metal pipe for carrying off smoke from a stove

2

: a tall silk hat