bureau

American  

[byoor-oh] / ˈbyʊər oʊ /

noun

plural

bureaus, bureaux

1. a chest of drawers, often with a mirror at the top.

2. a division of a government department or an independent administrative unit.

3. an office for collecting or distributing news or information, coordinating work, or performing specified services; agency.

   a travel bureau; a news bureau.

4. Chiefly British. a desk or writing table with drawers for papers.

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bureau British  

/ ˈbjʊərəʊ /

noun

1. a writing desk with pigeonholes, drawers, etc, against which the writing surface can be closed when not in use

2. a chest of drawers

3. an office or agency, esp one providing services for the public

4. 1. a government department

   2. a branch of a government department

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Other Word Forms

• subbureau noun

Etymology

Origin of bureau

1710–20; < French: desk, office, originally a kind of cloth (used to cover desks, etc.), Anglo-French, Old French burel, equivalent to bur- (probably < *būra, variant of Late Latin burra wool, fluff ; cf. bourrée) + -el noun suffix

Explanation

When you put your socks away, you'll most likely put them in a bureau, or a chest of drawers used for storing clothes. Hopefully you've washed them. A dresser or a chest of drawers can also be called a bureau, a piece of furniture with drawers for storing things. Another meaning of bureau is "an office or government agency." These two definitions seem unrelated, but the original meaning of the French word bureau, "cloth covering for a desk" helps explain. Bureau gradually evolved to mean first just "desk" (and eventually "dresser"), and around 1720 it also started being used to mean a room full of desks, or an office.

Example Sentences

According to the statistics bureau, the sharp improvement at the start of 2026 was mainly supported by the strong performance of China’s equipment and high-tech manufacturing sectors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Llamas made his way from the hotel to the NBC News bureau with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker and veteran Washington correspondent Andrea Mitchell.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

In September, his administration launched an investigation into the bureau after firing its head.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

The bureau routed payments through false-front entities while assuring the public that its mission was to suppress rather than stimulate violence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Out of bed, I riffle through my handbag until I come up with my notes from the pension bureau, scanning over them, looking for something to quiet my brain.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• agency
• authority
• board
• commission
• committee
• department
• division
• office