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

Third, the bureaucratic burden of obtaining military medical credentials is a significant deterrent. —Robert Krasner, STAT, 1 June 2026

As these committees proliferate, many have become bureaucratic hurdles that produce governance theater rather than meaningful risk mitigation. —David Talby, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Break down bureaucratic silos between early education, K–12, and higher education so California can build a true cradle-to-career approach that keeps students from falling through the cracks at critical transitions in their educational journey. —Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

This effort to suppress speech under the guise of bureaucratic process must not prevail. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 28 May 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