C1 noun Neutre

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'.

Exemples

3 sur 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.

Famille de mots

Nom
bureaucracy
Verb
bureaucratize
Adverbe
bureaucratically
Adjectif
bureaucratic
Apparenté
bureaucrat
💡

Astuce mémo

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.

Quiz rapide

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

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : bureaucracy

Exemples

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.

Famille de mots

Nom
bureaucracy
Verb
bureaucratize
Adverbe
bureaucratically
Adjectif
bureaucratic
Apparenté
bureaucrat

Collocations courantes

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

Phrases Courantes

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

Souvent confondu avec

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.

📝

Notes d'usage

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.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

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'.

💡

Astuce mémo

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.

📖

Origine du mot

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

Modèles grammaticaux

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'.
🌍

Contexte culturel

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').

Quiz rapide

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

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : bureaucracy

Mots lis

exarchness

C1

The state or quality of being an exarch, specifically referring to the authoritative status or regional jurisdiction of a deputy ruler or high-ranking ecclesiastical official. It describes the inherent power and dignity associated with governing a province or diocese on behalf of a higher sovereign.

perihumer

C1

A technical term referring to the anatomical region or specific tissue structures immediately surrounding the humerus bone in the upper arm. It is primarily used in orthopedic medicine and physical therapy to describe areas of concern during surgery, injury assessment, or prosthetic fitting.

microfluship

C1

A precise, automated release of a minimal amount of fluid or data used to clear a micro-system or reset high-sensitivity sensors. It is typically employed in microfluidic engineering and advanced computing to prevent sediment buildup or signal noise.

antiponness

C1

The quality or state of being opposed to or averse to hard labor, toil, or physical exertion. It describes a deep-seated resistance to performing arduous tasks, often found in philosophical or psychological discussions about the nature of work.

forenumerary

C1

Describes something that pertains to an initial or preliminary counting or listing that occurs before the main enumeration. It is typically used in administrative, historical, or technical contexts to refer to items or individuals recorded ahead of a final official tally.

detangite

C1

To separate components, strands, or ideas that have become intricately intertwined or knotted. It is most frequently used in formal or technical contexts to describe the process of unravelling a complex situation, data set, or physical structure.

unitangine

C1

Describing a process or system that operates through a single point of contact or a singular, unbranching focus. It is often used in technical or analytical contexts to denote a direct and isolated interaction between two entities.

enjectment

C1

Ejectment is a legal action or remedy brought by a person who claims title to real property to recover possession of that property. It is primarily used to remove a tenant or squatter who is wrongfully occupying the land and to settle disputes regarding the rightful owner's title.

invertite

C1

Describing something that has been reversed in position, order, or nature, or turned upside down. It is a highly specialized or archaic term used primarily in technical, historical, or biological contexts to denote a state of inversion.

malteghood

C1

Describing a state marked by deep-seated communal loyalty and historical resilience. It refers to qualities or behaviors that prioritize the preservation of a group's collective identity and shared fortitude above individual interests.

C'tait utile ?
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !

Commencez à apprendre les langues gratuitement

Commence Gratuitement