bureaucratic — relating to or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy; excessively concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: relating to or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy; excessively concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌbjʊrəˈkrætɪk/
Example Sentences
- Getting a simple parking permit turned into a bureaucratic odyssey involving seven different departments.
- The company's bureaucratic culture stifles innovation and creativity.
- She complained about the bureaucratic maze she had to navigate just to change her address.
bureaucratic
ADJECTIVE[/ˌbjʊrəˈkrætɪk/]
relating to or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy; excessively concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense
Getting a simple permit takes hours of bureaucratic paperwork and endless stamps.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word combines the French 'bureau' (office, desk) with the Greek 'kratia' (rule, power), literally meaning rule or authority exercised from an office. The term emerged in 19th-century French to describe administrative governance systems characterized by rigid hierarchical structures and proliferation of offices.
Breakdown
bureau (office, desk) + -crat (from Greek kratia, meaning rule or power) + -ic (adjective suffix forming descriptive terms). Together, the morphemes create an adjective describing systems or individuals governed by or characteristic of office-based administrative authority.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Getting a simple parking permit turned into a bureaucratic odyssey involving seven different departments.”
“The company's bureaucratic culture stifles innovation and creativity.”
“She complained about the bureaucratic maze she had to navigate just to change her address.”
“The bureaucratic delays meant that the emergency supplies arrived three weeks late.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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