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
Patel flew to Milan for the last few days of the Olympics on Thursday, reportedly taking the bureau’s jet for the trip.
—
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 23 Feb. 2026
According to the census bureau, nearly 10 percent of your labor force are immigrants.
—CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
These moves to various bureaus and departments reflected attempts to curtail corruption, reduce the influence of the prohibitionists on staffing, and increase effectiveness.
—Richard F. Hamm, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026
The ruling follows years of legal battles between environmental groups and the bureau.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bureau
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Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 23 Feb. 2026
According to the census bureau, nearly 10 percent of your labor force are immigrants.
—CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
These moves to various bureaus and departments reflected attempts to curtail corruption, reduce the influence of the prohibitionists on staffing, and increase effectiveness.
—Richard F. Hamm, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026
The ruling follows years of legal battles between environmental groups and the bureau.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bureau
Cite this Entry
“Bureau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureau. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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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