(bureaucracies)
1.
A ~ is an administrative system operated by a large number of officials.
State bureaucracies can tend to stifle enterprise and initiative.
N-COUNT: usu pl
2.
Bureaucracy refers to all the rules and procedures followed by government departments and similar organizations, especially when you think that these are complicated and cause long delays.
People usually complain about having to deal with too much ~.
N-UNCOUNT disapproval