burocrático

bureaucratic

adjective boo-roh-KRAH-tee-koh Rare

Origin: From French bureaucratique, from bureau (office) + Greek kratos (power).

Usage Note

Burocrático (feminine burocrática) describes processes, systems, or people characterised by excessive administrative procedure. The noun is burocracia and the agent noun is burócrata (bureaucrat), which is common gender. The word is almost always pejorative in everyday speech: 'trámites burocráticos' (bureaucratic red tape). In academic writing it can be neutral, referring simply to rational-legal administrative structures.

Examples

"El proceso fue lento por los obstáculos burocráticos."

Natural Translation

The process was slow because of bureaucratic obstacles.

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