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burocracia

bureaucracy

noun boo-roh-KRAH-syah Rare
People & Society Government

Origin: From French bureaucratie, coined from bureau (office) + Greek -kratia (rule).

Also means

red tape

Usage Note

Burocracia describes both the administrative system and, colloquially, its excessive paperwork and delays. The adjective burocrático and the noun burócrata (bureaucrat) derive from the same root. In everyday speech the word carries a pejorative tone: hay mucha burocracia means the red tape is overwhelming.

Examples

"La burocracia retrasó el trámite."

Natural Translation

The bureaucracy delayed the process.

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