bureaucratic

adjective

bu·​reau·​crat·​ic ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkra-tik 

ˌbyər-

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy or a bureaucrat

bureaucratic government

a bureaucratic organization

bureaucratic procedures

bureaucratically

ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌbyər-

adverb

Examples of bureaucratic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Feeding America says the bureaucratic fight ignores the immediate reality for many Americans. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025

Mamdani did make some nods to boosting bureaucratic efficiency and improving public safety, but populists always pepper their speeches with promises that almost everyone can support. —Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025

For example, the Production Committee style of film producing, that is common in Japan, came in for criticism, and was compared poorly to Korea’s less bureaucratic and more swashbuckling style of filmmaking, which is usually helmed by just one company. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025

But for this to work, these supercities must have freedom from the bureaucratic maze that suffocates current development. —Zoltan Istvan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French bureaucratique, from bureaucrate bureaucrat or bureaucratie bureaucracy + -ique -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bureaucratic

• anti-bureaucratic

Rhymes for bureaucratic

• adiabatic
• aristocratic
• asymptomatic
• axiomatic
• diagrammatic
• diaphragmatic
• electrostatic
• endolymphatic
• epigrammatic
• homeostatic
• idiomatic
• magnetostatic

Kids Definition

bureaucratic

adjective

bu·​reau·​crat·​ic ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkrat-ik 

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy or bureaucrat

bureaucratically

-ˈkrat-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb