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
About 200 people work in the building, which houses the sheriff, undersheriff, detective bureau and crime lab, among other employees, said Stephen Huber, the sheriff's public information officer.
—
Christina Hall, Freep.com, 5 Dec. 2025
As recently as late October, the bureau was offering a $500,000 reward for information that would help authorities identify the Capitol Hill bombing suspect.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
In September, three former FBI officials filed a federal lawsuit accusing Patel of orchestrating a purge of bureau leadership and overseeing a rampant politicization of the bureau.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
On November 26, the anti-corruption bureau questioned the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov.
—Kristina Berdynskykh, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bureau
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Christina Hall, Freep.com, 5 Dec. 2025
As recently as late October, the bureau was offering a $500,000 reward for information that would help authorities identify the Capitol Hill bombing suspect.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
In September, three former FBI officials filed a federal lawsuit accusing Patel of orchestrating a purge of bureau leadership and overseeing a rampant politicization of the bureau.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
On November 26, the anti-corruption bureau questioned the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov.
—Kristina Berdynskykh, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bureau
Cite this Entry
“Bureau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureau. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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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