bureaucracy

/bjʊˈrɑkrəsi/

/bjʊəˈrɒkrəsi/

Other forms: bureaucracies

A bureaucracy is an organization made up of many departments and divisions that are administered by lots of people. If you've ever had to deal with health insurance or financial aid, you're familiar with the dark side of bureaucracy.

Bureaucracy has a bad reputation because it has come to mean an organization or government that is chin-deep in red tape and unnecessary procedures. When dealing with a bureaucracy, expect to fill out lots of forms and wait. Bureaucracies are mocked in the hilarious film "Brazil," where people have mind-numbing jobs they do while sitting at desks. Bureaucracy is an organization administered by people behind desks, or bureaus. Bureaus, get it?

Definitions of bureaucracy

1. noun

   a government that is administered primarily by bureaus that are staffed with nonelective officials
   type of:

   authorities, government, regime

   the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
2. noun

   nonelective government officials
   synonyms: bureaucratism

   types:

   Pentagon

   the United States military establishment

   type of:

   government officials, officialdom

   people elected or appointed to administer a government
3. noun

   any organization in which action is obstructed by insistence on unnecessary procedures and red tape
   type of:

   organisation, organization

   a group of people who work together