bureaucrat
A bureaucrat is an official in a government department or large organization who is concerned with procedural correctness and administrative tasks. The term often carries a negative connotation, implying someone who follows rules rigidly and is more interested in following procedures than in being helpful or efficient.
Examples
3 of 5I had to spend three hours at the city hall talking to a bureaucrat just to get a parking permit.
I spent a long time at the government office speaking with an official to obtain a parking authorization.
The senior bureaucrat was tasked with implementing the new environmental regulations across the state.
The high-ranking government official was responsible for putting the state's new environmental laws into practice.
Try not to act like a bureaucrat and just let me submit the form online.
Please don't be so obsessed with strict rules and allow me to send the document via the internet.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Break the word down: 'Bureau' means desk/office in French, and 'crat' comes from the Greek word for power. A bureaucrat is someone who has power from behind a desk.
Quick Quiz
The ______ at the ministry refused to accept my application because I used the wrong color of ink.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bureaucrat
Examples
I had to spend three hours at the city hall talking to a bureaucrat just to get a parking permit.
everydayI spent a long time at the government office speaking with an official to obtain a parking authorization.
The senior bureaucrat was tasked with implementing the new environmental regulations across the state.
formalThe high-ranking government official was responsible for putting the state's new environmental laws into practice.
Try not to act like a bureaucrat and just let me submit the form online.
informalPlease don't be so obsessed with strict rules and allow me to send the document via the internet.
Sociological studies often examine how the bureaucrat maintains power through the control of specialized information.
academicAcademic research frequently looks at how administrative officials keep their influence by managing specific data.
The corporation hired a former government bureaucrat to navigate the complex international trade laws.
businessThe company employed a person who used to work for the government to help them understand complicated trade rules.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
faceless bureaucrats
anonymous officials who make decisions without considering individuals
army of bureaucrats
a very large number of administrative workers
entrenched bureaucrat
an official who has been in their position so long they are resistant to change
Often Confused With
Politicians are elected by the public, whereas bureaucrats are hired or appointed employees of the government.
Usage Notes
Use 'bureaucrat' carefully. While it can simply mean a government worker, it is frequently used as a criticism (pejorative) to describe someone who is inflexible or inefficient.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'bureaucrat' as an adjective (e.g., 'a bureaucrat system'); you must use 'bureaucratic' for the adjective form.
Memory Tip
Break the word down: 'Bureau' means desk/office in French, and 'crat' comes from the Greek word for power. A bureaucrat is someone who has power from behind a desk.
Word Origin
Originating in the 18th century from French 'bureau' (desk/office) combined with the Greek suffix '-kratia' (power or rule).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many English-speaking countries, there is a common cultural stereotype of the bureaucrat as an obstacle to progress, often depicted in satire and media.
Quick Quiz
The ______ at the ministry refused to accept my application because I used the wrong color of ink.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bureaucrat
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
syngravent
C1To formally reach a collective agreement or to consolidate disparate ideas into a singular, authoritative consensus through deliberation. It is typically used in academic or high-level professional contexts to describe the synthesis of various perspectives into a unified stance.
homoaltersion
C1To systematically modify a component or individual within a group so that it aligns identically with the properties of its counterparts. It describes the act of enforcing homogeneity through specific, calculated adjustments to maintain structural consistency.
homogratacy
C1To achieve a state of collective agreement or uniform satisfaction within a group by aligning interests or expressing mutual gratitude. It involves the process of harmonizing conflicting viewpoints into a single, mutually pleasing outcome.
multipatership
C1Multipatership refers to the biological phenomenon where a single litter or brood of offspring is sired by more than one father. In sociology, it describes the state of a woman having children with multiple different partners, often referred to as multi-partnered fertility.
periluddom
C1A noun referring to the state or environment of anticipation and ritualized preparation that occurs just before a competitive event, game, or performance. It encompasses the collective psychological atmosphere and physical activities shared by participants and spectators before the main action begins.
circummentcy
C1The act or state of bypassing restrictions, rules, or obstacles through strategic maneuvering or the exploitation of loopholes. It refers specifically to the quality of being able to find indirect routes to achieve a goal while avoiding direct confrontation with a system.
adcedent
C1Describing a person, entity, or state that is in the process of acceding to an existing agreement, treaty, or organization. It refers to the act of joining or consenting to be bound by terms previously established by others.
misvalness
C1To incorrectly estimate or judge the intrinsic worth or significance of something, particularly by failing to recognize its true essence or state. It refers to the act of assigning a wrong value to an object or concept based on a misunderstanding of its fundamental nature.
homotactible
C1Describing objects, surfaces, or body parts that are sensitive to touch in an identical way or occupy the same position in a tactile arrangement. It is a technical term used to compare sensory perception across different areas or specimens.
repatible
C1To officially return a person, such as a refugee or prisoner of war, or an object like currency or cultural artifacts, to their country of origin. This verb is primarily used in legal, political, and financial contexts regarding international borders and national belonging.
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