English · Word Candidate

bureaucracy

/bjʊəˈɹɒk.ɹə.si/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: bureaucracies

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Government by bureaus or their administrators or officers.

Noun

Examples

However, when Britain left the European Union, ferries started to ply a direct sea link from Ireland, to save hauliers from custom's bureaucracy of driving via Britain.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A system of administration based upon organisation into bureaus, division of labour, a hierarchy of authority, etc., designed to dispose of a large body of work in a routine manner.

Noun

Examples

At that time the administration replaced the system of patronage in the civil service with a bureaucracy.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “bureaucracy” mean?

Government by bureaus or their administrators or officers.

Is “bureaucracy” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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