bureau
noun
bu·reau
ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ō 
ˈbyər-
plural bureaus also bureaux
ˈbyu̇r-(ˌ)ōz
ˈbyər-
1
a
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
Neill Franklin, who was once head of the city’s drug and criminal enforcement bureau.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2025
It is written by Susan Page, USA TODAY's Washington bureau chief.
—USA Today, 19 July 2025
Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the FCC, has urged that all commissioners weigh in on the merger, not just the FCC’s media bureau.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 18 July 2025
There was a bustling harbor and 25-40 houses for the town's roughly 200 residents at its peak, with four mills running, the visitors bureau said.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bureau
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2025
It is written by Susan Page, USA TODAY's Washington bureau chief.
—USA Today, 19 July 2025
Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the FCC, has urged that all commissioners weigh in on the merger, not just the FCC’s media bureau.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 18 July 2025
There was a bustling harbor and 25-40 houses for the town's roughly 200 residents at its peak, with four mills running, the visitors bureau said.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bureau
Cite this Entry
“Bureau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureau. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bureau
noun
bu·reau
ˈbyu̇(ə)r-ō
plural bureaus also bureaux
-ōz
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
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