bureau
noun
bu·reau
ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ō 
ˈbyər-
plural bureaus also bureaux
ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ōz
ˈbyər-
1
a
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
Examples of bureau in a Sentence
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
The book is on top of my bureau.
Recent Examples on the Web
With each emergency, laws were enacted, bureaus created, budgets enlarged, and civil liberties restricted.
—
Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
The building later also housed the Texas Department of Public Safety regional headquarters and license bureau, other agencies and, after 1940, the North Side Lions Club.
—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 June 2026
Johnson was an officer with the Kansas City Police Department from December 2003 through February 2014, and was last assigned to the patrol bureau, said Captain Jake Becchina, a spokesperson for the department.
—
Ilana Arougheti
june 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
For example, the bureau reported that Maryland had six inmate homicides in state prisons between fiscal 2020 and 2024, while the state’s public safety department reported to CNS that there were 13 homicides during the same time period.
—
Theodore Rose,
Baltimore Sun,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bureau
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
The building later also housed the Texas Department of Public Safety regional headquarters and license bureau, other agencies and, after 1940, the North Side Lions Club.
—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 June 2026
Johnson was an officer with the Kansas City Police Department from December 2003 through February 2014, and was last assigned to the patrol bureau, said Captain Jake Becchina, a spokesperson for the department.
—
Ilana Arougheti
june 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
For example, the bureau reported that Maryland had six inmate homicides in state prisons between fiscal 2020 and 2024, while the state’s public safety department reported to CNS that there were 13 homicides during the same time period.
—
Theodore Rose,
Baltimore Sun,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bureau
Cite this Entry
“Bureau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureau. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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