bureaucratic

bureaucratic — adjective

1. full of official steps and paperwork in a way that slows action and makes easy t

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

full of official steps and paperwork in a way that slows action and makes easy tasks harder.

Example

Applying for the permit was so bureaucratic that Omar missed the deadline.

so bureaucratic that + clause

Residents hate the bureaucratic process for replacing a broken parking pass.

bureaucratic process

Common collocations
  • bureaucratic process
  • bureaucratic procedure
  • bureaucratic paperwork
  • bureaucratic delay
  • bureaucratic checklist
Synonyms
  • cumbersome

    broader word for anything awkward or difficult to handle

  • rule-bound

    stresses strict obedience to rules

  • formalistic

    focuses on following form and rules more than practical results

  • procedural

    often more neutral and simply about process

Antonyms
  • streamlined

    describes a process made simple and efficient

  • efficient

    focuses on getting results quickly and with little waste

  • flexible

    allows easy adjustment instead of rigid steps

Grammar Patterns

bureaucratic + process/procedure/paperwork

so bureaucratic that + clause

become bureaucratic

Usage Note

Often used critically about procedures, applications, offices, and replies. Distinguish this sense from adjective/2: here the speaker is complaining that official rules or paperwork are making something slow.

Common Mistakes

The clerk was bureaucratic because he wore a suit.
The complaint process was bureaucratic because it needed four signatures.
This sense describes rule-heavy procedures, not someone's clothes or appearance.

2. relating to a government or large organization run through layers of offices, of

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

relating to a government or large organization run through layers of offices, officials, and set procedures.

Example

The ministry grew more bureaucratic after it opened six regional offices.

more bureaucratic after + change

A bureaucratic culture at the tax office meant even small decisions moved upstairs.

bureaucratic culture

Common collocations
  • bureaucratic system
  • bureaucratic structure
  • bureaucratic culture
  • bureaucratic machine
  • bureaucratic state
Synonyms
  • administrative

    more neutral and focused on management work in offices

  • governmental

    specifically linked to government, not companies or charities

  • institutional

    connected with an organization as a system, without stressing officials

  • official

    broader and does not by itself suggest many levels or offices

Antonyms
  • informal

    not organized through fixed official structures

  • nonbureaucratic

    direct opposite for systems without heavy administrative layers

Grammar Patterns

bureaucratic + system/structure/culture

become bureaucratic

more bureaucratic after + change

Usage Note

Usually appears before nouns such as system, structure, culture, machine, and state. Distinguish this sense from adjective/1: this one can simply identify an official administrative style, while adjective/1 stresses delay and unnecessary formal steps.

Common Mistakes

Our family dinner is bureaucratic because my father cooks.
Our family business became bureaucratic after it added five managers.
This sense needs an organized system with layers of administration, not any situation with authority.

Word family

  • bureaucracy
    nounC1
  • bureaucrat
    nounC1
  • bureaucratically
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words can all appear around formal systems, but they do not criticize the same thing. 'Bureaucratic' suggests too many offices, signatures, and fixed steps, especially when a process becomes slow or frustrating. 'Cumbersome' is broader and can describe anything awkward to use or manage, not only official systems. 'Procedural' is often neutral and simply means that something follows a set process. 'Administrative' usually points to office work or management duties, again without the negative tone. 'Official' only means authorized or connected with an authority. Compare: 'The permit process is bureaucratic,' 'The old filing system is cumbersome,' 'The court raised procedural questions,' 'She handles administrative work,' and 'Wait for the official reply.'

bureaucratic ↗cumbersomeproceduraladministrative ↗official ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • highly bureaucratic
  • increasingly bureaucratic

Phrases

  • become bureaucratic
  • grow more bureaucratic

Etymology

FrenchGreekEnglish

The word entered English from French 'bureaucratique', related to 'bureaucratie'. The first part, 'bureau', originally meant a desk and then an office, while the ending comes from a Greek-based element meaning rule or power. So the word first pointed to rule by office-holders and paperwork. That history still fits the modern senses: it can describe official administrative systems, or it can criticize procedures that feel overloaded with forms and approvals.