bureaucracy

Where does the word "bureaucracy" come from? It comes from French bureau, passing through French before entering English (1800s).

Bureaucracy’s story begins in French: bureau meant “a writing desk or office.” Originally the coarse cloth covering a writing desk, then the office itself. Within French, it grew into bureaucratie by 1700s. Combined with Greek kratos (power) to describe rule by officials. It reached English by 1800s as bureaucracy. Settled as the English word for administrative government. Today, bureaucracy means a system of government administered by officials and departments.

1. Stage 1 · French · 1600s bureau "a writing desk or office", originally the coarse cloth covering a writing desk, then the office itself.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s bureaucratie "rule by administrative officials", combined with Greek kratos (power) to describe rule by officials.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s bureaucracy "administration through officials and departments", settled as the English word for administrative government.