red tape
noun
: official routine or procedure marked by excessive complexity which results in delay or inaction
bureaucratic red tape
… enterprisers that show how people across the Nation are coping (or not coping) with such problems as unemployment, the budget deficit and Government red tape.—
John Weisman
John Weisman… pompous officials (often lowly clerks) in love with red tape who delight in obstructing the expedition of what should be simple procedures.—Norman W. Schur
Norman W. SchurInitial plans became irretrievably mired in the red tape of building permissions.—Bella Pollen
Bella PollenTheir plan is simple enough and none too glamorous: create a Web site to help people cut through red tape; i.e., pay for parking tickets and so on.—Sarah Kerr
Sarah KerrExamples of red tape in a Sentence
You would not believe the red tape involved in getting the required permits.
Recent Examples on the Web
These requirements add considerable costs and endless delays to every project, forcing developers to spend years navigating the tangled web of red tape before even breaking ground.
—Christopher Calton, Orange County Register, 16 Apr. 2024
Freedom from red tape has been a rallying cry for farmers from Poland to Portugal at recent protests against European Union laws and policies.
—Melissa Eddy, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for red tape 
Christopher Calton, Orange County Register, 16 Apr. 2024
Freedom from red tape has been a rallying cry for farmers from Poland to Portugal at recent protests against European Union laws and policies.
—Melissa Eddy, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for red tape
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'red tape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Red tape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20tape. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
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