bureaucratic
adj.relating to a large organization with many rules and officials. It often describes systems that are slow, complex, or focused on paperwork rather than people.
adj.relating to or characteristic of a bureaucracy; marked by adherence to formal rules, procedures, and hierarchical authority. Often carries a negative connotation implying excessive complexity or inefficiency.
“The bureaucratic process took three months to finish.”
“She spent the morning filling out bureaucratic forms to renew her passport.”
“The company's bureaucratic structure slowed decision-making, causing them to miss a crucial market opportunity.”
“Tax uncertainties, bureaucratic red tape, delays in land and environmental approvals are all long-documented challenges for foreign investors, including the Japanese.”
“But then conformism, bureaucratic groupthink and mindless techno-consumerism are the villains here; the heroes are the outcasts and free-thinkers.”
Borrowed from French bureaucratique, from bureaucrate (“bureaucrat”) or bureaucratie (“bureaucracy”) + -ique (“-ic”), equivalent to bureaucrat + -ic or bureau + -cratic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.