Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf or pertaining to bureaucracy or the actions of bureaucrats.
Sentence Examples
In fact, this is a major means of bureaucratic control.
If I don't take care of all the bureaucratic issues, they'll simply deport me.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The countless forms and signatures required made the process feel overly ____ and slow.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
There are too many ____ hurdles to overcome when starting a new firm.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥
Proto-Hellenic *pāwər
Ancient Greek πῦρ (pûr)
Proto-Indo-European *-rós
Proto-Hellenic *-rós
Ancient Greek -ρός (-rós)
Ancient Greek πῠρρός (pŭrrhós)bor.
Latin burrus
Latin burra
Old French *bure
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Indo-European *-elós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -lus
Latin -ellus
Old French -el
Old French burel
French bureau
Proto-Indo-European *kret-
Ancient Greek κρᾰ́τος (krắtos)
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂
Proto-Hellenic *-íā
Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā)
Ancient Greek -κρᾰτῐ́ᾱ (-krătĭ́ā)lbor.
French -cratie
French bureaucratie
French bureaucrate
Proto-Indo-European *-ikos
Proto-Italic *-ikos
Latin -icuslbor.
Old French -ique
Middle French -ique
French -ique
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French bureaucratie
▲
French -ique
French bureaucratiquebor.
English bureaucratic
Borrowed from French bureaucratique, from bureaucrate (“bureaucrat”) or bureaucratie (“bureaucracy”) + -ique (“-ic”), equivalent to bureaucrat + -ic or bureau + -cratic.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[T. E.] Lawrence said that in the end he felt himself to be fighting not for the imperial British but for the rebellious Arabs. All too often he conflicted with British bureaucratic fustiness."
— 2014 March 2, Jan Morris, “Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Scott Anderson, review: A skilful account of T. E. Lawrence and his role in the painful birth of an emerging Middle East [print version: A rock in Arabia's shifting sands, 1 March 2014, p. R26]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review):
"European Union is legalistic, bureaucratic and runs by precedent."
— 2017 December 8, Steven Erlanger, “Brexit Talks Headed for a Second, More Difficult Phase”, in The New York Times:
"“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy said on Thursday morning."
— 2025 March 27, Jessica Glenza, “RFK Jr plans 10,000 job cuts in restructuring of US health department”, in The Guardian: