bureaucracy: Meaning and Definition of

bu•reauc•ra•cy

Pronunciation: (byoo-rok'ru-sē), [key]
— pl. -cies.
  1. government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials.
  2. the body of officials and administrators, esp. of a government or government department.
  3. excessive multiplication of, and concentration of power in, administrative bureaus or administrators.
  4. administration characterized by excessive red tape and routine.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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