bureaucrat
gb/bjˈʊɹoʊkɹˌæt/ us/bjˈʊɹoʊkɹˌæt/
B2
English
~ 9200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
Non-elected government administrator
A person who works in the government office system, doing administrative work but not making laws or winning elections.
Usage pattern:
a bureaucrat in [a government department/agency]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bureaucrat' (a person) with 'bureaucracy' (the system or organization) and 'bureaucratic' (an adjective). For example, they may say *'the bureaucrat of our country is very slow'* when they mean 'the bureaucracy of our country is very slow'.
Synonyms
civil servant (More neutral and commonly used in British English for a government administrator; slightly less negative than 'bureaucrat'.)
|
government official (Broader term that can include both administrative staff and high-level decision-makers.)
Antonyms
businessperson (Works in the private sector rather than in government administration, so is an opposite in terms of workplace and role.)
Collocations
career bureaucrat
|senior bureaucrat
|government bureaucrat
|unelected bureaucrat
|high-ranking bureaucrat
|federal bureaucrat
Themes
politics
|work
|law
Examples
- After twenty years as a bureaucrat in the finance ministry, she knows the budget process inside out.
- Local bureaucrats are responsible for processing business licenses and permits.
- The new policy was written by senior bureaucrats in the education department.
- Many bureaucrats remain in their posts even when the ruling party changes.
- As a career bureaucrat, he advised several different presidents on health policy.
Learner examples
- Her father is a bureaucrat in the city government.
- The bureaucrats in this office check all the forms carefully.
- Many bureaucrats stay in the same job for many years.
- I met a friendly bureaucrat who helped me with my passport.
- The country has thousands of bureaucrats working in the capital.
Noun
C1
entity
2
Rule-obsessed, obstructive official
An office worker, usually in government, who follows every rule very strictly and makes things slow and difficult for people.
Usage pattern:
a [petty/faceless] bureaucrat who [does something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'bureaucrat' is always negative. In fact, it can be neutral in meaning 1, but in many news stories and conversations it has this critical sense of being rule-obsessed and unhelpful. Context usually shows which sense is intended.
Synonyms
paper-pusher (Informal and clearly negative; focuses on doing pointless paperwork rather than being helpful.)
|
jobsworth (British informal; strongly critical of someone who refuses to be flexible because 'it's more than my job's worth'.)
Antonyms
problem-solver (Describes someone who focuses on finding practical solutions rather than blocking action with rules and procedures.)
Collocations
petty bureaucrat
|faceless bureaucrat
|paper-pushing bureaucrat
|obstructive bureaucrat
|unhelpful bureaucrat
Themes
work
|society
|emotions
|politics
|communication
Examples
- The project was delayed for months by a petty bureaucrat who kept asking for new forms.
- She called the immigration officer a heartless bureaucrat for refusing the visa on a tiny technicality.
- Entrepreneurs complain that faceless bureaucrats make it too hard to start a business.
- He felt trapped in a system run by bureaucrats who cared more about paperwork than people.
- Instead of helping, the local bureaucrats hid behind regulations and refused to take responsibility.
Learner examples
- We lost a week because one bureaucrat wanted another signature.
- Many people think bureaucrats only say no and ask for more papers.
- He is a real bureaucrat and will not bend any rule.
- They blamed some petty bureaucrats for stopping the new plan.
- People were angry at the bureaucrats who made the process so slow.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bureaucrat
IPA
GB/bjˈʊɹoʊkɹˌæt/
US/bjˈʊɹoʊkɹˌæt/
Syllables & stress
bur - eau - crat (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: bureaucrat
- Plural: bureaucrats
Word family
Forms
bureaucrats
noun
Core family
bureaucracy
noun B2
bureaucratic
adjective B2
Related words
bureaucratically
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
unbureaucratic
adjective
Advanced or less common
bureaucratize
verb
bureaucratization
noun C2
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.