red-tapism

9.9

Following official rules so strictly that it causes extra delay

noun
/ˈrɛdˌteɪpɪzəm/

Literature

: burocracia

The new company struggled to get its license approved due to endless red-tapism.

Examples

Many foreign investors are discouraged by the red-tapism plaguing the country's bureaucracy.
Efforts to reduce red-tapism have aimed to streamline administrative procedures.
The project's delay was due to red-tapism.
Many businesses suffer from red-tapism in government regulations.
To improve efficiency, the government is working to eliminate red-tapism in public services.
The lengthy approval process is a clear example of red-tapism that frustrates entrepreneurs.
Due to red-tapism, many projects face unnecessary delays before they can begin.

Synonyms

red tape

vsred-tapism

Informal

55 3.8

Official rules and steps that are slow and make things difficult

is the same meaning but framed as a tendency with an -ism form

Antonyms

efficiency

342 3.4

Getting good results while using little time, effort, or money

flexibility

153 3.6

Ability to change plans or actions easily to fit new situations

How Bureaucratic

red-tapism

Literature

9.9

bureaucracy

187 6.3

formality

66 4.4

Surface Forms

red-tapism singular

red-tapisms plural

Morphology

red-tapism = red tape (transparent) = red + tape + ism

The noun 'red tape' (bureaucratic formality) plus the productive suffix '-ism' clearly yields 'the practice or tendency of red tape', so learners who know 'red tape' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Red-tapism comes from the old practice of tying official papers with a red ribbon or tape, a clear image of documents being held back. The ending -ism means a 'practice' or 'habit', so red-tapism is the habit of following too many official rules that 'slow things down'.