bureau

noun bu·reau \ ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ō , ˈbyər- \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: bureau in a Sentence

Definition of bureau

plural bureaus also bureaux play \-(ˌ)ōz\

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 bureau

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

credit bureau

the local visitor's bureau

See bureau defined for English-language learners

See bureau defined for kids

Examples of bureau in a Sentence

the Federal Bureau of Investigation
The book is on top of my bureau.

Recent Examples of bureau from the Web

The bureau’s chairman drew ridicule during Mr Sharif’s trial by launching an investigation into whether the ex-PM had laundered almost $5bn through India as prime minister.

— The Economist, "Pakistan’s former prime minister embraces jail to rally his party," 12 July 2018
With embassies and consulates around the world, Christensen’s bureau responds swiftly to emergencies.

— kelsy chauvin, Condé Nast Traveler, "The U.S. State Department's Travel Tips for Same-Sex Couples and Families," 13 June 2018
The bureau’s Chicago field office has faced violent attacks as well as an inexplicable, violent escape by a suspect.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "The 13 enthralling science fiction and fantasy books you need to check out this June," 1 June 2018
The driver and passenger then ran from the car, according to a statement from the investigative bureau.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Lawyer: Georgia police officer stalked and hunted fleeing black man," 29 June 2018
Presley, who is white, was following a vehicle that stopped at an intersection on June 21 when the driver and passenger ran, according to a statement from the investigative bureau.

— jeff martin, BostonGlobe.com, "Manslaughter charge: Georgia officer shot fleeing black man," 29 June 2018
The driver and passenger then ran from the car, according to a statement from the investigative bureau.

— Washington Post, "Lawyer: Georgia police officer stalked and hunted black man," 29 June 2018
So on March 3, detectives from Miami-Dade's warrants bureau went to Noguera's home to arrest him.

— david ovalle, miamiherald, "Raped as a child in Miami, he's facing deportation after testing positive for weed," 19 June 2018
Valeriani also covered the civil rights movement for NBC and co-anchored the Today show from the network's Washington bureau.

— mike barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, "Richard Valeriani, Longtime 'NBC Nightly News' Correspondent, Dies at 85," 18 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bureau.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bureau

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1698

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

bureau Synonyms

Synonyms

agency, arm, branch, department, desk, division, office, service;

Related Words

subdepartment, subdivision;

Other Furniture and Woodworking Terms

appoint, credenza, mission, settee

BUREAU Defined for English Language Learners

bureau

noun

Definition of bureau for English Language Learners

: a government department or part of a government department in the U.S.
: an office of a newspaper, magazine, etc., that is not the main office but is in an important city
: an office or organization that provides services or information to the public

BUREAU Defined for Kids

bureau

noun bu·reau \ ˈbyu̇r-ō \

Definition of bureau for Students

1 : a low chest of drawers for use in a bedroom

2 : a division of a government department

the Federal Bureau of Investigation

3 : a business office that provides services

a travel bureau

History for bureau

A chest of drawers and an office, which are two of the meanings of the word bureau, do not seem to have much of a connection. In French, from which we have borrowed the word, bureau originally referred to a piece of rough cloth used to protect the surface of a desk. But its meaning expanded so that it could also refer to the desk itself, and to the room containing the desk, that is, an office. On some bureaus with lots of drawers the writing surface could be raised and closed to form a slanting top. In the United States a chest of drawers without any writing surface came to be called a bureau.