bureau

noun

bu·​reau ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ō 

ˈbyər-

plural bureaus also bureaux ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ōz 

ˈbyər-

1

a

British : writing desk

especially : one having drawers and a slant top

b

: a low chest of drawers for use in a bedroom

2

a

: a specialized administrative unit

especially : a subdivision of an executive department of a government

the Federal Bureau of Investigation

b

: a branch of a newspaper, newsmagazine, or wire service in an important news center

the newspaper's Washington D.C. and New York bureaus

c

: a usually commercial agency that serves as an intermediary especially for exchanging information or coordinating activities

credit bureau

the local visitor's bureau

Synonyms of bureau

• agency
• department
• office
• desk

Examples of bureau in a Sentence

the Federal Bureau of Investigation

The book is on top of my bureau.

Recent Examples on the Web

The week of melodrama followed a familiar pattern for Zelensky – reminiscent of a crisis a year ago over the fate of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

The case gained new life in November 2024, when Arlington police brought it to the FBI’s Dallas Field Office and sought help from the bureau’s investigative genetic genealogy program. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

The bureau’s ride safety inspectors were on site to oversee the process, state Commissioner of Labor Luke Farley said in a statement to The Charlotte Observer. — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026

The coroner’s bureau said it was determined May 13 that the manner of death was suicide with the cause being a gunshot wound to the head. — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, desk, cloth covering for desks, from Old French burel woolen cloth, from Old French *bure, from Late Latin burra shaggy cloth

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bureau

• weather bureau

Rhymes for bureau

• bureaux
• chiaroscuro
• politburo

Kids Definition

bureau

noun

bu·​reau ˈbyu̇(ə)r-ō 

plural bureaus also bureaux -ōz 

1

a

: a subdivision of a government department

Federal Bureau of Investigation

b

: a business office providing services for the public

a travel bureau

2

: a low chest of drawers for use in a bedroom