Inglés

bureaucrat

gb/bjˈʊɹoʊkɹˌæt/ us/bjˈʊɹoʊkɹˌæt/
B2 Inglés
~ 9200
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo 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.

Patrón de uso: a bureaucrat in [a government department/agency]
Error frecuente:
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'.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
businessperson (Works in the private sector rather than in government administration, so is an opposite in terms of workplace and role.)
Colocaciones
career bureaucrat |senior bureaucrat |government bureaucrat |unelected bureaucrat |high-ranking bureaucrat |federal bureaucrat
Temas
politics |work |law
Ejemplos
  • 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
  • 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.
Sustantivo 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.

Patrón de uso: a [petty/faceless] bureaucrat who [does something]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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'.)
Antónimos
problem-solver (Describes someone who focuses on finding practical solutions rather than blocking action with rules and procedures.)
Colocaciones
petty bureaucrat |faceless bureaucrat |paper-pushing bureaucrat |obstructive bureaucrat |unhelpful bureaucrat
Temas
work |society |emotions |politics |communication
Ejemplos
  • 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
  • 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.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
bureaucrat
AFI
GB/bjˈʊɹoʊkɹˌæt/
US/bjˈʊɹoʊkɹˌæt/
Sílabas y acento
bur - eau - crat (3 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (bur)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
  • Base: bureaucrat
  • Plural: bureaucrats
Familia de palabras
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
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