strict, often excessive adherence to and respect for official regulations
officialism in American English
(əˈfɪʃəlˌɪzəm)
noun
1.
the characteristic practices and behavior of officials; esp., excessive adherenceto official routine and regulations; red tape
2.
officials collectively; officialdom
officialism in American English
(əˈfɪʃəˌlɪzəm)
noun
1.
excessive attention to official regulations and routines
2.
official methods or systems
3.
officials collectively
Word origin
[1855–60; official + -ism]This word is first recorded in the period 1855–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: kickoff, output, pipeline, specialist, superheat-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism).
Examples of 'officialism' in a sentence
officialism
Perhaps future generations will call such behaviour officialism, and launch campaigns to stamp out refereeism in football.