Meaning & use
bureaucracy
A system of government or organization run by many officials and departments following fixed rules and procedures.
See it in a sentence
Getting a simple building permit required navigating several layers of confusing local bureaucracy.
Employees complained that company bureaucracy slowed down even simple decisions.
A note on using this word
Bureaucracy often carries a negative tone in everyday use, suggesting excessive rules and slow, impersonal procedures.
Words with a similar meaning
red tapeadministration
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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