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

Its bureaucratic process and institutional lethargy are proving, unexpectedly, to be an asset in an age of instability. — Jonas Nahm, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026

Rogers struggled during a July 9 meeting to assuage disability advocates' concerns about potential bureaucratic dysfunction caused by the shift, USA TODAY previously reported. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Global investment in low-carbon hydrogen will reach a new high this year, but the nascent industry is close to hitting a bureaucratic cap on its growth, an industry group report warned. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Some state funding for levee repairs and upgrades is available through the Pennsylvania capital budget, but these funds are limited and subject to bureaucratic delays. — Kaleigh Yost, The Conversation, 10 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