bureaucratic

adjective

bu·​reau·​crat·​ic ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkra-tik How to pronounce bureaucratic (audio)
ˌbyər-
Synonyms of bureaucratic
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy or a bureaucrat
bureaucratic government
a bureaucratic organization
bureaucratic procedures
bureaucratically
ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce bureaucratic (audio)
ˌbyər-
adverb

Examples of bureaucratic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The handshake deal kicks off a long bureaucratic process where the budget bills must be printed and then voted on. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2026 Denials can be appealed, but doing so demands a level of health insurance literacy and bureaucratic know-how that most people lack. — Miranda Yaver, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 DeSantis blamed the disruptions of the pandemic as well as bureaucratic challenges for the slow pace at the start of his governorship. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Official processes for making purchases are bureaucratic and slow, and procurement teams often decide to take matters into their own hands, wasting money in the process. — Andrew Zhyvolovych, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bureaucratic

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French bureaucratique, from bureaucrate bureaucrat or bureaucratie bureaucracy + -ique -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bureaucratic was in 1800

Phrases Containing bureaucratic

Rhymes for bureaucratic

See All Rhymes for bureaucratic

Browse Nearby Words

bureaucratese
bureaucratic
bureaucratise
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bureaucratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureaucratic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bureaucratic

adjective
bu·​reau·​crat·​ic ˌbyu̇r-ə-ˈkrat-ik How to pronounce bureaucratic (audio)
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a bureaucracy or bureaucrat
bureaucratically
-ˈkrat-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce bureaucratic (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on bureaucratic

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bureaucratic

Nglish: Translation of bureaucratic for Spanish Speakers

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