bureau

noun bu·reau \ ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ō , ˈbyər- \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

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 matter has been forwarded to the police department’s detective bureau, police said.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Police investigate theft of hair growth treatment," 17 Apr. 2018
The consumer bureau, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Los Angeles legal officials hit the bank was hit with $185 million in penalties for that episode.

— kevin mccoy, USA TODAY, "Wells Fargo faces $1B fine from federal regulators over mortgage, auto loan abuses," 13 Apr. 2018
She was not injured, but was submitted for a re-testing with the license bureau.

— andy attina / cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Falling artwork alarms residents: Gates Mills Police Blotter," 11 Apr. 2018
But an awareness deficit still remains, something Wagner plans to continue to address, which includes partnering with the hospitality industry, visitors bureaus, educators, emergency room nurses and transportation companies, among others.

— betsy klein, CNN, "Trump signs measure aimed at curbing online sex trafficking," 11 Apr. 2018
The second bedroom was converted into their office and is furnished with Raymond Loewy knockoffs, which include two bureaus, a night table, and desk, all in provoking lime green.

— catherine laughlin, Philly.com, "An Old City apartment that's 'organized but playful'," 22 Mar. 2018
Uible finished his role with the visitors' bureau in August and failed to file all the valid signatures needed to run for commissioner again in 2018.

— jessie balmert, Cincinnati.com, "Clermont County: Commissioner dinged for conflict of interest. Should local officials dole out money to boards they sit on?," 20 Mar. 2018
Al Lopez, of the LAPD’s Central Traffic bureau, whose investigators are searching for suspects in that incident.

— nicole santa cruz, www.latimes.com, "17 years. 179 victims. The deadly toll of street racing in Los Angeles," 16 Mar. 2018
The reshuffle shows signs of mimicking the United States with a new ministry of veterans affairs and a cabinet-level immigration bureau (not that China has many immigrants).

— The Economist, "An overhaul of China’s bureaucracy enhances the party’s authority," 15 Mar. 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

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.