bureaucrat

noun

ˈbyu̇r-ə-ˌkrat How to pronounce bureaucrat (audio)
Definition of bureaucratnext
as in clerk
a worker in a government agency the bureaucrats at the town hall seem to think that we need a building permit to build a tree house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bureaucrat Szabo, an otherwise inconspicuous former bureaucrat, helped to unite two distinct networks with overlapping ambitions. — Alex Cuadros, ProPublica, 16 June 2026 Giving the president more direct control over who serves on those bodies has long been a goal of conservatives, who have objected to unelected bureaucrats wielding too much power with little accountability. — Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 June 2026 Getting foreign streamers to support local content creators so Canadians could view their own films and TV shows rather than rely on Netflix and Prime Video for popular fare may have seemed a good idea among bureaucrats and regulators in Ottawa. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026 The Bay Area was handed, unquestionably, the worst slate of group-stage games FIFA’s bureaucrats could manifest — five equivalents of a Tuesday night MACtion football game in a November blizzard. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bureaucrat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bureaucrat
  1. clerk
  2. official
  3. functionary
  4. worker
  5. employee
Noun
  • The city clerk is responsible for maintaining government records while assisting the mayor and City Council with administrative duties inside and outside council meetings.
    — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
  • The state this year abolished the job of the New Orleans criminal court clerk — merging it with another court clerk position.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of clerk
Noun
  • The agreement also didn't lead to market opportunities for the United States in Canada and Mexico in dairy and other sectors as was expected, officials said.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The city said replacement parts have been ordered and officials hope to reopen the pool before the end of July.
    — Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of official
Noun
  • This Levantine subculture socialized in French, voiced endearments in Arabic, communicated with functionaries in Turkish.
    — Joseph O’Neill, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • But Díaz-Canel is largely viewed by experts as a functionary, a loyalist without much true authority.
    — Ellen Uchimiya, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Definition of functionary
Noun
  • Advocates viewed Cal/OSHA’S recognition of the detainees as workers as a victory that could pave the way for future labor rights fights at other detention centers in the state.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The women who get promoted aren’t always the hardest workers in the room.
    — Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of worker
Noun
  • Many crew members are hired through third-party agencies with varying practices, and actual earnings can vary depending on the cruise line, the individual employee's experience level and other factors.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Diaz’s attorney says that man was Oscar Villafranca, another employee of the taco stand.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of employee

Browse Nearby Words

bureau
bureaucrat
bureaucratese
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bureaucrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bureaucrat. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bureaucrat

Nglish: Translation of bureaucrat for Spanish Speakers

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