bureaucrat
bureaucrat Lexical Profile
bureaucrat Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An official who works in a government department or large administrative system, especially one perceived as overly concerned with procedural rules and routine at the expense of efficiency or common sense.
"The small business owner grew frustrated after waiting months for andistant bureaucrat to approve the building permit."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'civil servant' or 'administrator' are neutral terms for government officials, 'bureaucrat' frequently carries a pejorative connotation suggesting someone who prioritizes rigid rules and paperwork over practical results.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-19th century from French 'bureaucrate', formed from 'bureau' (meaning 'office', originally referring to the baize cloth covering writing desks) and the Greek suffix '-kratēs' (meaning 'ruler' or 'power').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.