- government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials.
- the body of officials and administrators, especially of a government or government department.
- excessive multiplication of, and concentration of power in, administrative bureaus or administrators.
- administration characterized by excessive red tape and routine.
- 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
- government by such a system
- government or other officials collectively
- any administration in which action is impeded by unnecessary official procedures and red tape
