bureau

noun

bu·​reau ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce bureau (audio)
ˈbyər-
plural bureaus also bureaux ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ōz How to pronounce bureau (audio)
ˈbyər-
1
a
British : writing desk
especially : one having drawers and a slant top
b
: a low chest of drawers for use in a bedroom
2
a
: a specialized administrative unit
especially : a subdivision of an executive department of a government
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
b
: a branch of a newspaper, newsmagazine, or wire service in an important news center
the newspaper's Washington bureau
c
: a usually commercial agency that serves as an intermediary especially for exchanging information or coordinating activities
credit bureau
the local visitor's bureau

Examples of bureau in a Sentence

the Federal Bureau of Investigation The book is on top of my bureau.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lemire had been serving as Politico’s White House bureau chief and has risen to prominence in the Washington press corps as a regular on cable news shows. Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024 Tren de Aragua is still trying to find their identity, said Jason Savino, an assistant chief in the New York Police Department's detective bureau. Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 The water bureau of Portland, Ore., piloted a machine learning algorithm designed to predict customers' ability to pay and then offer discounts to those who are struggling. Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024 The statistics bureau’s PMI for non-manufacturing activity rose to 50.2 in October. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bureau 

Word History

Etymology

French, desk, cloth covering for desks, from Old French burel woolen cloth, from Old French *bure, from Late Latin burra shaggy cloth

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bureau was in 1698

Dictionary Entries Near bureau

Cite this Entry

“Bureau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureau. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

bureau

noun
bu·​reau ˈbyu̇(ə)r-ō How to pronounce bureau (audio)
plural bureaus also bureaux -ōz How to pronounce bureau (audio)
1
a
: a subdivision of a government department
Federal Bureau of Investigation
b
: a business office providing services for the public
a travel bureau
2
: a low chest of drawers for use in a bedroom

More from Merriam-Webster on bureau

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