# bureaucracy

/bjʊˈɹɑkɹəsi/ (US) · /bjɔːɹˈɒkɹəsˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bureaucracy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. administrative system

noun · CEFR B2

a system of government or business where many people and departments follow strict rules to get work done.

For teachers: a system of administration based on organization into bureaus, division of labor, and a hierarchy of authority.

- The university bureaucracy makes it difficult for students to change their majors quickly.
- Modern states rely on a complex bureaucracy to manage public services and ensure that regulations are applied consistently across the population.

### 2. excessive rules

noun · CEFR B2

too many complicated rules and processes that make it hard to achieve something.

For teachers: excessive adherence to official rules and routine, often resulting in delay or inaction.

- I had to deal with so much bureaucracy just to get a simple parking permit.
- The entrepreneur complained that the sheer amount of bureaucracy involved in starting a small business was enough to discourage most investors.

### 3. the officials

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the group of people who work in and manage a large administrative system.

For teachers: the collective body of administrators and officials, especially within a government framework.

- The state bureaucracy was slow to respond to the needs of the local community.
- Tensions between the elected politicians and the permanent bureaucracy often lead to significant delays in implementing new legislative policies.

## Examples

- The new business failed because there was too much bureaucracy.
- Small business owners often complain that government bureaucracy prevents them from hiring new staff quickly.
- While intended to ensure fairness and transparency, the department's internal bureaucracy has become so rigid that it now stifles the very innovation it was designed to protect.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.