bureau

noun

bu·​reau ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ō 

ˈbyər-

plural bureaus also bureaux ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ōz 

ˈbyər-

1

a

British : writing desk

especially : one having drawers and a slant top

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

Synonyms of bureau

• agency
• department
• office
• desk

Examples of bureau in a Sentence

the Federal Bureau of Investigation

The book is on top of my bureau.

Recent Examples on the Web

When Cotliar retired from his post in 1997, Jack Nelson, the Washington bureau chief for The Times, penned a tribute on a mock Page 1 gifted to Cotliar. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

The officers, formerly with the Albany Police Department, were charged with misuse of license plate data and violation of oath of office in a July 6 statement from the bureau. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Alazjah Cannon, 32, of Pleasant Hill, was charged Monday in the January 3 death of TreVaughn Winston Brown, 34, who the coroner’s bureau said was a resident of West Sacramento. — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Herald/Times Tallahassee bureau reporters Romy Ellenbogen and Garrett Shanley contributed to this report. — Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, desk, cloth covering for desks, from Old French burel woolen cloth, from Old French *bure, from Late Latin burra shaggy cloth

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bureau

• weather bureau

Rhymes for bureau

• bureaux
• chiaroscuro
• politburo

Kids 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