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
Resident Tundra King, a former law enforcement officer, said the Sheriff’s Office has multiple advantages, including its SWAT team, bomb squad and detective bureau.
—
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
The bureau’s American Community Survey this week released its estimates about demographics, housing, employment and other topics covering the most recent five-year period, from 2020 through 2024; the survey also publishes estimates representing single-year periods.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
The bureau uses data from the IRS and its American Community Survey to calculate migration, although the ACS data lags by a year and requires statisticians to project the data forward.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Anaheim’s tourism bureau saw 2025 slowed by fires, inflation, tariffs and geopolitical issues, but Visit Anaheim President and CEO Mike Waterman optimistically said 2026 is poised to be the best year in the organization’s 65-year history.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bureau
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
The bureau’s American Community Survey this week released its estimates about demographics, housing, employment and other topics covering the most recent five-year period, from 2020 through 2024; the survey also publishes estimates representing single-year periods.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
The bureau uses data from the IRS and its American Community Survey to calculate migration, although the ACS data lags by a year and requires statisticians to project the data forward.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Anaheim’s tourism bureau saw 2025 slowed by fires, inflation, tariffs and geopolitical issues, but Visit Anaheim President and CEO Mike Waterman optimistically said 2026 is poised to be the best year in the organization’s 65-year history.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 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 6 Feb. 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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