C1 noun Neutral

bureaucracy

/bjʊəˈrɒkrəsi/

A complex system of administration characterized by specialized functions, adherence to fixed rules, and a hierarchy of authority. While essential for organizing large institutions, it is often used pejoratively to describe inefficiency and excessive 'red tape'.

Beispiele

3 von 5
1

I spent the entire afternoon navigating the local bureaucracy to get a simple parking permit.

I spent the entire afternoon navigating the local bureaucracy to get a simple parking permit.

2

The state must implement reforms to streamline the federal bureaucracy and improve public transparency.

The state must implement reforms to streamline the federal bureaucracy and improve public transparency.

3

Trying to get a straight answer from that insurance company is like fighting a brick wall of bureaucracy.

Trying to get a straight answer from that insurance company is like fighting a brick wall of bureaucracy.

Wortfamilie

Nomen
bureaucracy
Verb
bureaucratize
Adverb
bureaucratically
Adjektiv
bureaucratic
Verwandt
bureaucrat
💡

Merkhilfe

Remember 'Bureau' is French for 'desk' or 'office'. Think of a room full of desks where paper is moved from one to another—that is a bureaucracy.

Schnelles Quiz

The startup's growth was hindered by the _______ of the large corporation that acquired it.

Richtig!

Die richtige Antwort ist: bureaucracy

Beispiele

1

I spent the entire afternoon navigating the local bureaucracy to get a simple parking permit.

everyday

I spent the entire afternoon navigating the local bureaucracy to get a simple parking permit.

2

The state must implement reforms to streamline the federal bureaucracy and improve public transparency.

formal

The state must implement reforms to streamline the federal bureaucracy and improve public transparency.

3

Trying to get a straight answer from that insurance company is like fighting a brick wall of bureaucracy.

informal

Trying to get a straight answer from that insurance company is like fighting a brick wall of bureaucracy.

4

Max Weber famously analyzed bureaucracy as a rational-legal framework necessary for modern industrial societies.

academic

Max Weber famously analyzed bureaucracy as a rational-legal framework necessary for modern industrial societies.

5

Our international expansion has been significantly slowed down by the heavy bureaucracy of the local regulatory bodies.

business

Our international expansion has been significantly slowed down by the heavy bureaucracy of the local regulatory bodies.

Wortfamilie

Nomen
bureaucracy
Verb
bureaucratize
Adverb
bureaucratically
Adjektiv
bureaucratic
Verwandt
bureaucrat

Häufige Kollokationen

excessive bureaucracy excessive bureaucracy
cut through bureaucracy cut through bureaucracy
government bureaucracy government bureaucracy
layers of bureaucracy layers of bureaucracy
stifled by bureaucracy stifled by bureaucracy

Häufige Phrasen

red tape

excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules

administrative burden

the cost and time spent complying with regulations

entrenched bureaucracy

a system of administration that is very difficult to change

Wird oft verwechselt mit

bureaucracy vs democracy

Democracy refers to rule by the people/elected officials, whereas bureaucracy refers to the administrative system of non-elected officials.

bureaucracy vs autocracy

Autocracy is rule by one person with absolute power, whereas bureaucracy is rule through complex administrative layers.

📝

Nutzungshinweise

In academic writing, use 'bureaucracy' neutrally to describe organizational structures. In political or everyday contexts, it almost always carries a negative connotation of being slow or inefficient.

⚠️

Häufige Fehler

The most common mistake is spelling; learners often forget the 'eau' (from French) or the 'cracy' ending. Another mistake is using 'bureaucracy' when you simply mean 'government'.

💡

Merkhilfe

Remember 'Bureau' is French for 'desk' or 'office'. Think of a room full of desks where paper is moved from one to another—that is a bureaucracy.

📖

Wortherkunft

From the French word 'bureau' (desk, office) and the Greek suffix '-kratia' (power or rule).

Grammatikmuster

Uncountable when referring to the concept/system. Countable (plural: bureaucracies) when referring to specific administrative systems. Often preceded by adjectives like 'stifling', 'rigid', or 'cumbersome'.
🌍

Kultureller Kontext

In many Western cultures, bureaucracy is a common trope for government inefficiency and is frequently satirized in media (e.g., the film 'Brazil' or 'The Office').

Schnelles Quiz

The startup's growth was hindered by the _______ of the large corporation that acquired it.

Richtig!

Die richtige Antwort ist: bureaucracy

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