bureaucratic

adjective

bu·​reau·​crat·​ic ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkra-tik 

ˌbyər-

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy or a bureaucrat

bureaucratic government

a bureaucratic organization

bureaucratic procedures

bureaucratically

ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌbyər-

adverb

Examples of bureaucratic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For more than two decades, bad science and bureaucratic inertia have resulted in women and physicians having an incomplete view of HRT. — Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Experts say the laborious bureaucratic process has discouraged international firms from doing business with Iran. — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Several lawmakers are calling for an entire reform of the governance structure of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents, saying the system is broken, bureaucratic and lacks accountability. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026

Nepali lawmakers have slammed the administration over bureaucratic delays in distributing resources after the floods, including medical equipment and staffing of medical facilities. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French bureaucratique, from bureaucrate bureaucrat or bureaucratie bureaucracy + -ique -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bureaucratic

• anti-bureaucratic

Rhymes for bureaucratic

• adiabatic
• aristocratic
• asymptomatic
• axiomatic
• diagrammatic
• diaphragmatic
• electrostatic
• endolymphatic
• epigrammatic
• homeostatic
• idiomatic
• magnetostatic

Kids Definition

bureaucratic

adjective

bu·​reau·​crat·​ic ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkrat-ik 

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy or bureaucrat

bureaucratically

-ˈkrat-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb