bureaucracy

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It's hard to be a dictator (or a "decider") when the bureaucracy is at war with you.

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (5)

  1. noun Administration of a government chiefly through bureaus or departments staffed with nonelected officials.
  2. noun The departments and their officials as a group: promised to reorganize the federal bureaucracy.
  3. noun Management or administration marked by hierarchical authority among numerous offices and by fixed procedures: The new department head did not know much about bureaucracy.
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Examples (50)

  • Ultimate rigidity in the bureaucracy is their goal, to maintain the integrity of the tribal traditions (rules and procedures). —  GUEST EDITORIAL
  • Cowen said voters alienated by a distant Brussels bureaucracy, and seeking to embarrass his own unpopular government, could not afford a second "no" vote. —  Brandon Sun Online - Top Stories
  • Streamlining the bureaucracy was Mr. Ford's mission. —  post-gazette.com - News
  • Not having to deal with that cold and frequently irrational bureaucracy is another advantage of alternative loans. —  Crosby Finance
  • Speaking as a complete outsider (I only knew 2 guys that worked for NASA & they didn't talk about it much ... they did mention something like 'the bureaucracy is killing the creativity of the new talent'). —  NASA Watch
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This word has been looked up 187 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. French bureaucratie : bureau, office; see bureau + -cratie, rule (from Old French; see -cracy).

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from French bureau-cratie, from bureau + -cratie, English -cracy, government, as in aristocracy, democracy, etc.
 

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/bjuˈroʊkrəsi/
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