bureaucracy

US /bjʊˈrɑ:krəsi/

UK /bjʊəˈrɒkrəsi/

B2

noun

  • Governing system with many rules and officials
  • Over-complicated official rules and processes.
  • The officials in such a system, especially those considered to be excessively concerned with procedural correctness at the expense of efficiency or common sense.

other

  • The administrative system of a large organization, especially one that is government-run; administration characterized by excessive red tape and routine.
  • A system of government or business administration containing many departments, administrators, and complicated rules.