n · academic
officialdom
UK/ˈɒfɪʃəlˌdɒm/US/ˈɑːfɪʃəlˌdɑːm/OF·fi·cial·DOM
the administrative system of officials, often implying bureaucracy or red tape
Examples
“Many citizens complain that officialdom makes simple procedures slow and complicated.”
“Breaking into officialdom can be difficult without connections.”
“Critics say officialdom resists change and protects its own rules.”
Band 8 sentence
“Young entrepreneurs often say that officialdom stifles innovation through excessive paperwork.”
Collocations
- resist officialdom
- cut through officialdom
Word family
Common mistakes
The officialdom decided nothing.→The officials decided nothing.
We must fight the officialdom.→We must fight bureaucracy / We must fight officialdom.
Say it for a higher band
5administration→6bureaucracy→7+officialdom
Synonyms
bureaucracy
administration
Easily confused
bureaucracy
“Dealing with bureaucracy can be frustrating when you need urgent help.”
Related words
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In -dom
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