a system of administration based upon organization into bureaus, division of labour, a hierarchy of authority, etc: designed to dispose of a large body of work in a routine manner
2.
government by such a system
3.
government or other officials collectively
4.
any administration in which action is impeded by unnecessary official procedures and red tape
Examples of 'bureaucracies' in a sentence
bureaucracies
Most of them don't get it, for the simple reason that they don't know how, or are unwilling, to negotiate the bureaucracies.
Tapply, William G A RODENT OF DOUBT
The oldest law of bureaucracies is 'first protect ourselves'.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Bureaucracies are struggling to keep pace with this change.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As a manager of complex bureaucracies, he has impressed officials.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Budgets are cut, then reinflated by the huge bureaucracies to administer 'economies'.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We don't need the bureaucracies they are paid to mismanage.
The Sun (2010)
In particular, increasing antipathy towards centralised, detached bureaucracies.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Most of these irritations involve faceless bureaucracies hiding behind computerised defences.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Town halls are bureaucracies whose aim in life is to keep expanding.
The Sun (2008)
Over time, these bureaucracies have acquired their own interests.