What does "bureaucracy" mean?

Government by bureaus or their administrators or officers.

What is a synonym for "bureaucracy"?

Common synonyms include: administration, authorities, beadledom, beat, beaten path, bumbledom.

Pronounced //bjʊəˈɹɒk.ɹə.si//.

//bjʊəˈɹɒk.ɹə.si// noun

noun ·Moderate ·High school level

Noun

1
Government by bureaus or their administrators or officers. countable, uncountable
"However, when Britain left the European Union, ferries started to ply a direct sea link from Ireland, to save hauliers from custom's bureaucracy of driving via Britain."
2
any organization in which action is obstructed by insistence on unnecessary procedures and red tape wordnet
3
A system of administration based upon organisation into bureaus, division of labour, a hierarchy of authority, etc., designed to dispose of a large body of work in a routine manner. countable, uncountable
"At that time the administration replaced the system of patronage in the civil service with a bureaucracy."
4
a government that is administered primarily by bureaus that are staffed with nonelective officials wordnet
5
The body of officers and administrators, especially of a government. countable, uncountable
"The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy. (apocryphal quip)"

Show 2 more definitions

6
nonelective government officials wordnet
7
Excessive red tape and routine in any administration, body or behaviour. countable, derogatory, uncountable
"The head of the civil service promised to clamp down on bureaucracy."