bureaucratese
/bjˈʊɹəkɹætˌiz/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
13
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A style of language, used by bureaucrats, that involves jargon or euphemism to the detriment of broader understanding.
Derogatory; Informal; Uncountable
noun
Wordy, ostentatious talk or writing that resembles bureaucratic writing.
Derogatory; Informal; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Help you fill out the application for food stamps and other government programs, break down the discouraging bureaucratese."
- "The company president's annual statement was complete bureaucratese: it was utterly content-free."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ Proto-Hellenic *pāwər Ancient Greek πῦρ (pûr) Proto-Indo-European *-rós Proto-Hellenic *-rós Ancient Greek -ρός (-rós) Ancient Greek πῠρρός (pŭrrhós)bor. Latin burrus Latin burra Old French *bure Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -lus Latin -ellus Old French -el Old French burel French bureau Proto-Indo-European *kret-der. Ancient Greek κρᾰ́τος (krắtos) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Ancient Greek -κρᾰτῐ́ᾱ (-krătĭ́ā)lbor. French -cratie French bureaucratie French bureaucratebor. English bureaucrat Proto-Indo-European *-iskos Proto-Germanic *-iskaz Proto-West Germanic *-iskbor. Late Latin -iscus ▲ Vulgar Latin -iscus Latin -ēnsis Old French -eisbor. Middle English -eys English -ese English bureaucratese From bureaucrat + -ese.