Word

bureaucracy

noun C1

UK /bjʊəˈɹɒk.ɹə.si/

US /bjʊˈɹɑ.kɹə.si/

Meanings

noun

a system of administration with many rules, procedures, and official steps, especially in government or large organizations

bureaucracy: a system of administration with many rules, procedures, and official steps, especially in government or large o…

noun

the complicated, slow, or inefficient procedures that are seen as unnecessary in an organization

Definition

Bureaucracy is a system of administration run through many rules, procedures, and departments.

Bureaucracy refers to how large organizations, especially governments, are managed through formal rules and layered authority. It often involves many forms, approvals, and standardized procedures. The word can be neutral, but it is frequently used negatively to criticize slow, rigid, or inefficient administration.

Examples

As a project manager, I lost two weeks to bureaucracy before I could even order the equipment.
You can feel the bureaucracy when you need three separate approvals for a simple change.
He blamed the delay on bureaucracy, not on the team’s technical work.
She navigated the bureaucracy with patience, keeping careful records of every step.
They tried to cut bureaucracy by merging departments and simplifying procedures.

Common mistake

Learners often use bureaucracy to mean “a group of bureaucrats,” but it usually refers to the system or the cumbersome procedures, not the people.